Organisation

Westminster City Council

55 stories · discussed at 8 council meetings · 3 councils

Westminster City Council is addressing a significant budget gap and overspend while reviewing licensing applications and its overall licensing policy.

Westminster City Council faces a projected budget deficit of £161 million by 2030, with an £8.2 million overspend in the 2025/26 financial year, primarily due to temporary accommodation costs. The council's Cabinet discussed the 2025/26 financial outturn and approved medium-term financial planning in July 2026, while the capital programme was reprofiled due to a £132.5 million underspend.

The council is currently reviewing several licensing applications, including a Leicester Square McDonald's request for a 5am licence, which Westminster City Council's Licensing Authority objects to. A decision is pending for DILA's licence application, heard in March 2026, while the Licensing Sub-Committee suspended Food Works' licence in March 2026 due to serious crime concerns. A significant overhaul of the council's licensing policy is slated for re-publication by October 2026.

In March 2026, the Cabinet adopted a new housing strategy for 2026-2031 and approved a five-year extension to its additional licensing scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation. The Cabinet also approved £250,000 for 20 new zebra crossings in Bayswater and a £411,931 upgrade for St John's Wood Primary School.

Key facts

  1. Westminster City Council's Licensing Authority objects to a Leicester Square McDonald's request for a 5am licence. Source
  2. Westminster City Council faces a projected budget deficit of £161 million by 2030. Source
  3. The council reported an £8.2 million overspend for the 2025/26 financial year. Source
  4. Its capital programme was reprofiled due to a £132.5 million underspend in 2025/26. Source
  5. The Cabinet approved a five-year extension to its additional licensing scheme for HMOs in March 2026. 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.

Stories, page 3

  1. Westminster Council Appoints New Director of Corporate Property Westminster Council has appointed a new Director of Corporate Property, following a meeting of the Appointments Sub-Committee on Monday, 1 December 2025. Westminster 5 December 2025
  2. Westminster trials heat-reflective road surfacing as part of net zero strategy Westminster City Council is trialling heat-reflective road surfaces to combat the urban heat island effect, as part of its broader strategy to achieve net zero emissions by... Westminster 30 November 2025
  3. Counter-Fraud Team Prevents £693K Loss for Westminster Westminster City Council's Corporate Anti-Fraud Service (CAFS) has prevented an estimated £693,499 in fraud losses between 1 April and 30 September 2025, a significant increase... Westminster 26 November 2025
  4. Westminster Secures £60M Grant for Church Street Affordable Housing Project Westminster City Council has secured a £60 million grant from the Greater London Authority (GLA) to boost its Church Street regeneration project. Westminster 26 November 2025
  5. Westminster Council Reviews Pimlico Heating Plan After Call-In Westminster Council's Housing and Regeneration Policy and Scrutiny Committee has reviewed a controversial cabinet decision regarding the future of the Pimlico District Heating... Westminster 22 November 2025
  6. Westminster Housing Repairs to See 'Transformative' Changes Westminster City Council is set to implement 'transformative' changes to its housing repairs and maintenance services, placing residents at the heart of the process. Westminster 18 November 2025
  7. Westminster to Revamp Waste Contract with Focus on Social Value Westminster City Council is set to overhaul its waste and cleansing services contract, placing a significant emphasis on social value in the procurement process. Westminster 18 November 2025
  8. Westminster Council Streamlines London Squares Preservation Act Enforcement by Delegating Authority to Committees Westminster City Council has formalised the delegation of functions under the London Squares Preservation Act 1931 to its Strategic and Planning Sub Committees. The Act... Westminster 16 November 2025