Hounslow Council has formally adopted its One Hounslow Financial Strategy 2026-2030
during a Borough Council meeting held on Tuesday, 15 September 2026. The strategy, presented by Councillor Max Mosley, Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, outlines the council's financial direction for the next five years, aiming to build a council capable of delivering positive change for residents.
During the debate, Councillor Mosley highlighted the council's strong financial position, noting increased reserves and underspends in temporary accommodation. The strategy aims to move away from austerity-driven minimum service provision towards maximising what can be delivered for residents.
Key points discussed included the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) returning £5 million extra to reserves, nearly tripling budgeted figures and on track to recover two years ahead of schedule. Temporary accommodation costs, a significant concern for London boroughs, were also addressed, with Hounslow reporting 29% fewer households in temporary accommodation than budgeted, resulting in an underspend of £2.7 million.
The council's local government company, Lampton Group, was noted for achieving its first year of profit ahead of schedule, with high satisfaction rates reported for its services. However, opposition members raised concerns about the group's financial performance. Councillor Jack Emsley pointed out that while Lampton Group showed a small profit, it had a cumulative loss of £15 million, with the £100,000 profit not significantly contributing to its repayment. He further highlighted that the profit was driven by Lampton Recycling, while Lampton Investment lost £1 million, Lampton Green Space lost £400,000, and Lampton Development incurred a £200,000 loss. Cumulatively, these figures would result in a £100,000 loss for the group. Councillor Emsley also raised concerns about a potential £1.7 million write-off of a loan to Lampton Development, which he believed warranted further scrutiny. Councillor Darshan Nagi echoed these sentiments, stating that the company had been operating at a significant loss year after year, with taxpayers repeatedly covering shortfalls, and did not consider the £100,000 profit to be a success in the context of the whole Lampton Group's financial performance.
Despite these positive indicators, questions were raised by opposition members regarding potential council tax increases and measures to tackle deprivation. Councillor Mosley addressed these concerns, emphasizing the continuous increase in service demand and statutory requirements, particularly in SEND, adult social care, and schools, which necessitate careful budget management.
Regarding Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision, Councillor Jasmine Deol inquired about improvements given the council's healthy financial position. Councillor Max Mosley responded that a key change being implemented is a shift away from spot purchases for services. He explained that spot purchases are not only financially challenging but also undermine the quality of provision. This change aims to ensure that SEND provision not only continues but also improves in standard.
Councillor Mosley also addressed the rising costs in adult social care, another area identified with increasing demand and statutory requirements. He reiterated that demand for services is continuously increasing, creating additional pressure. The council is implementing changes to service provision, moving away from spot purchases to ensure higher quality care. Furthermore, the Corporate Plan has a significant focus on prevention and early intervention to help residents maintain their independence for as long as possible, which he believes is beneficial for both individuals and the long-term sustainability of council services.
The council ultimately adopted the Financial Strategy, signalling its commitment to financial prudence and investment in services for residents over the coming years. The full details of the strategy can be found in the Public reports pack.
