Budget overspend
Councils are currently projecting significant budget overspends for the 2026/27 financial year, primarily driven by social care and housing pressures.
Several councils are projecting significant budget overspends for the 2026/27 financial year, primarily due to increased demand and costs in social care and housing. Wandsworth Council forecasts a £5.3 million overspend, while Newham Council projects £6.17 million, and Redbridge Council £8.485 million. These figures were reported in Quarter 1 financial monitoring reports in September and October 2026.
The overspends are largely concentrated in Adults & Health and Children & Young People's Services, as well as housing pressures. Redbridge Council's Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Shared Prosperity, Councillor Vanisha Solanki, stated in September 2026 that rigorous challenge sessions are in place to identify further savings. Wandsworth Council's forecast assumes £12 million in mitigating actions will be implemented.
A budget overspend occurs when actual expenditure exceeds the allocated budget. While many councils are currently reporting projected overspends for 2026/27, some councils, such as Hillingdon and Bexley, reported improvements in their forecast overspend positions for the 2025/26 financial year in early 2026.
Key facts
- Wandsworth Council projects a £5.3 million budget overspend for the 2026/27 financial year. Source
- Newham Council projects a £6.17 million budget overspend for the 2026/27 financial year. Source
- Redbridge Council projects an £8.485 million budget overspend for the 2026/27 financial year. Source
- Wandsworth Council's forecast assumes £12 million in mitigating actions will be implemented. Source
- Richmond upon Thames' Adult Social Care faces a £0.514 million overspend for Q1 2026-27. Source
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on. 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 9 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.