Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC)
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is currently addressing a significant projected budget gap, ongoing cyber attack recovery, and public safety concerns related to licensing decisions.
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea faces a projected budget gap of £32.8 million in 2027/28, escalating to £127.2 million by 2030/31, a report to the Leadership Team said in July 2026. This deficit is attributed to government funding reforms, increasing social care and temporary accommodation pressures, and higher inflation. The council is also considering potential cuts to its Council Tax Reduction Scheme for working residents, as discussed by the Leadership Team in October 2025.
Public safety and licensing decisions are also a current focus, with a Kensington and Chelsea licensing meeting adjourned in August 2026 due to uncertainty over a police objection to a Temporary Event Notice for the Notting Hill Carnival. The council's Licensing Committee updated its policy in October 2025 to address modern slavery and child exploitation. Meanwhile, recovery from a November 2025 cyber attack is on track, with 94% of systems restored by July 2026, though service backlogs are targeted for resolution by December 2026.
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, the local government authority responsible for licensing and public safety, continues to address these issues. Other recent council discussions include concerns raised in July 2026 by the Youth Cabinet Lead about young people's ability to afford to live in the borough, and the Planning Committee's approval of a new nursery and 27 flats in Ladbroke Grove in July 2026.
Key facts
- A Kensington and Chelsea licensing meeting was adjourned in August 2026 due to uncertainty over a police objection validity. Source
- The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea faces a projected budget gap of £32.8 million in 2027/28, escalating to £127.2 million by 2030/31. Source
- Recovery from a November 2025 cyber attack is on track, with 94% of systems restored by July 2026. Source
- Kensington and Chelsea Council's Planning Committee approved plans for a new nursery and 27 residential flats in Ladbroke Grove in July 2026. Source
- Kensington and Chelsea Council faces a projected £82.7 million budget cut (40%) between 2026/27 and 2028/29 due to government funding reforms. Source
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on, with background from Wikipedia. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.