Your money · Final EEBC budget
Budget 2026/27
Approved by Full Council on 10 February 2026. Balanced without using reserves, with a below inflation council tax rise and £750k more for homelessness.
Net budget
£11.87m
+15.6% on 2025/26
EEBC Band D
£239.85
+2.98%
Capital programme
£3.42m
£974k Disabled Facilities Grants
Council vote
19 to 6
4 abstentions
How a £1.93m gap became a balanced budget
Movement in the 2026/27 forecast between July 2025 and February 2026, £'000. Red bars added to the gap, green bars closed it.
Three year gap, July 2025
£5,063k
Three year gap, February 2026
£579k
Still to find in 2027/28 and 2028/29
£206k + £373k
The single biggest swing was the Fair Funding Review. Government's new formula recognises actual spend on temporary accommodation, which lifted EEBC's core spending power by 20% while Surrey County Council's rose 0.97%. Efficiency savings of £230k are still to be delivered in year; corporate contingency covers the risk if they slip.
Where the borough's £11.9m comes from
Net budget funding, £'000, 2025/26 vs 2026/27
| Source | 2025/26 | 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council tax | 7,884 | 8,175 | +291 |
| Retained business rates | 2,109 | 2,554 | +445 |
| Government grant (incl. RSG) | 409 | 1,688 | +1,279 |
| Collection fund prior years | -133 | -549 | -416 |
| Total net budget | 10,269 | 11,868 | +1,599 |
Council tax is 69% of funding. Government grant quadrupled after the Fair Funding Review. The council keeps roughly 40% of business rates collected locally; the rest goes to government and Surrey CC. No Surrey business rates pool operates in 2026/27 following the national reset.
Net budget by committee
£'000 and year on year change
Community & Wellbeing
Environment
Licensing & Planning Policy
Strategy & Resources
A £1,941k accounting adjustment (capital charges reversed) reconciles committee totals to the £11,868k net budget.
Reserves
Forecast at 31 March 2026 (forecast), £'000
The General Fund working balance is £1,555k against a £1,500k minimum set in July 2025. Only £3.53m of the £16.4m total is available for general use; the rest is earmarked for specific risks.
The budget relies on a £1.35m dividend from Epsom & Ewell Property Investment Company. A £5.7m equalisation reserve exists in case a tenant is lost.
Risks flagged by the Section 151 Officer
Budget Report section 15 and Appendix 11
Homelessness demand
2025/26 ran £520k over budget at Q3, mainly housing. An extra £750k is budgeted for 2026/27.
Income shortfalls
Parking (£100k), garden waste (£125k), cemetery (£70k) and trade waste (£60k) all fell short of earlier assumptions.
Commercial tenants
Loss of an EEPIC or estates tenant would hit income directly. Covered by the equalisation reserve.
Savings delivery
£230k of efficiencies must land in year. Corporate contingency is the fallback.
Reorganisation costs
One off £454k LGR contribution sits outside the revenue budget, funded from the Strategic Priorities reserve.
The Chief Finance Officer concluded the 2026/27 estimates are robust and reserves adequate. Pay award budgeted at 3% (£619k).
Sources
Budget Report 2026/27 to Full Council, 10 February 2026 (sections 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15 and 18). Approved 19 for, 6 against, 4 abstentions. Budget Report · Budget Book 2026/27 · All financial reports