Car parking charges in council owned car parks frozen, investment into the Brentwood Centre and play areas, along with more money to support street cleansing initiatives – are just some of the budget commitments agreed by councillors at Full Council last week (Thursday 13 February).
The budget set out how the Council intends to manage the increasing cost of delivering vital services, and be prepared for any external financial pressures, whilst still being able to invest, maintain and develop services over the coming year and beyond. Overall, a balanced budget has been achieved, along with Council Tax for 2025/26 and Fees and Charges for the year.
To maintain and invest in vital services, the Brentwood Borough Council element of Council Tax will increase by 2.99% for 2025/26. This equates to a charge of a Band D property increasing by 11.77 pence per week or £6.12 per annum for Brentwood Borough Council services. This increase is largely in line with Borough and District Council’s across Essex. Rents will increase by 2.7% which equates to an increase of £3.03 per week. The rent money will be used to reinvest back into the housing stock and deliver the repairs programme.
The budget has £750k of investment items for 2025/26 which include:
- £135,000 on staffing investment to our CCTV coverage to support community safety
- £68,000 to help deliver economic development priorities to support businesses
- £100,000 in locality grants for local groups and organisations to support our communities
- £68,000 to increase capacity in our planning team
- £50,000 to help relieve the burden on healthcare services
- £85,000 on street cleansing initiatives, including increased bin collection
Councillor David Kendall, Chair of the Finance & Resources Committee at Brentwood Borough Council said: “Financially the Council is in a good position, where we have set a balanced budget, committed investment into key areas and frozen car parking charges in council owned car parks. Whilst this is a good position to be in, it doesn’t happen by accident – it is what the Joint Administration has planned and prepared for since we took control of the Council.
“We have followed the historic precedent on Council Tax changes that mean a typical band D property will see an increase of just 12p per week, whilst making sure we maintain and enhance our services to residents.”
The Council is also making large capital investments in the Brentwood Centre, key Community sites and our Play Areas across the Borough.
Councillor Kendall added: “Whilst there is some uncertainty around what local government reorganisation will mean in the future, we will continue to listen to residents on their priorities and what they want local services to deliver now and for the future.
“Two years ago I inherited a deficit budget as Finance Chair, I am proud to have now reversed that risky course and proposed two budgets that invest in Brentwood, while balancing the books in these tough economic times.”