Introduction
The Council will set a budget for 2026/27 that looks to the future with confidence – not just protecting frontline services but investing in the things you’ve told us matter the most to you and building back some of the things that were hit by austerity.
This is symbolic after years of disproportionate cuts to our budgets by the previous government.
Over the coming months, we’ll bring forward proposals to make Manchester better, including investment in extended library opening hours, enhanced youth services, more cash for community groups, and strengthening services to clean our streets and crack down on fly-tipping. We will also continue to invest in tackling poverty and supporting people into good jobs.
We’ve consistently invested in protecting the vulnerable and pride ourselves on good-quality council services. Our children’s services recently became the first in the north west to be judged Outstanding by Ofsted. We’ll be investing further to maintain those high standards of care and protection for the city’s children and young people.
The Government is introducing fairer funding for councils, which recognises that areas with more challenges need more money. Along with our own careful planning, this means we’ll be in better financial shape going into next year. However, we’re still dealing with the legacy of 14 years of austerity under the previous government in which Manchester was among the places hardest hit.
Ongoing value for money and service transformation measures – things that make sense to do anyway – will avoid some costs and reduce others, but crucially every pound saved will be reinvested in services.
Government funding calculations over the past few years assume that councils will increase council tax by 4.99% overall – a 2.99% general increase plus another 2 per cent to support adult social care. That’s what we’re proposing, but we recognise that times are tough for many people. There is extensive help available for anyone struggling with costs, through our Council Tax Support scheme and an array of cost-of-living support.
Our budget for 2026/27 will be one that builds on the progress that’s been made in recent years. Your views in this consultation will help shape the final package of proposals for how we spend our resources.
We want to know your priorities to ensure they’re reflected in our decisions as we begin to slowly build back the things that were cut so we can make our city even better.
Have your say before 5pm on Wednesday 28 January 2026: