Stockport Council sets its 2026/2027 Budget

Stockport Council has set its 2026/27 budget following approval at the Budget Council meeting on Thursday 26 February 2026.

The Budget looks to protect the essential services the borough’s residents rely on while maintaining a stable financial position amid significant pressures facing local authorities: for the last 15 years, government funding to councils has steadily declined in real terms.

For 2026/2027, Stockport will receive an additional 4.95% in Government funding, and the equivalent of £1,167.90 per resident. This is against an England average increase of 6.14% (7.98% for other Metropolitan Borough), and £1,319.61 per head. Stockport Council also raises £217 million from Council Tax, and £139 million from Business Rates.

Cllr Mark Roberts, Leader of Stockport Council, said:

“Like councils up and down the country, we are facing serious financial pressures, but unlike many other councils, we are not receiving the same support or funding. The cost of running local services continues to rise, while more residents and businesses are turning to us for support. That growing demand is stretching council budgets everywhere.

“A large part of what we spend goes towards supporting our most vulnerable residents. That must remain our priority, even though it inevitably means there is less funding available for other valued local services.

“The Government says our funding will rise in the coming years, but that increase assumes higher Council Tax rather than new money coming into Stockport. Even then, it is well below what similar councils are receiving. Stockport misses out on funding streams that many other councils benefit from, despite facing similar pressures.

“Despite these challenges, we are managing our finances responsibly, making sure every pound is used carefully and effectively. We have taken difficult decisions, focused on value for money, and explored every opportunity to maximise funding, all while protecting essential services. We will continue to make the case for funding that properly reflects the needs of our borough.”

Across Greater Manchester, Council Tax is set to increase in all 10 boroughs. Many councils, including Stockport, are having to apply the full 4.99% rise allowed without a referendum because Government funding assumes local authorities will do so. Within this, 2% is specifically set aside to support adult social care, helping us meet increasing demand and rising costs.

Residents will also see changes to mayoral precepts, which fund policing, fire services and other regional initiatives. For example; for a band D property:

• the police precept will increase by £15
• the mayoral precept for fire services will rise by £6
• the general mayoral precept will increase by £19

The majority of the council’s budget is spent on statutory services that it is legally required to provide, including care and support for vulnerable adults and children. This significantly limits how much funding can be redirected to wider neighbourhood services and improvement programmes, particularly when overall funding does not keep pace with demand and inflation.

To set a balanced budget, the council has identified savings of £8.037 million in 2026/27. This includes £6.537 million in efficiency savings through new ways of working and improvements to how services are delivered.

These changes form part of a wider programme focused on digital advancement, contract management, vacancy and workforce planning, service reviews and income generation. Together, these measures help make sure that staff and our resources are used effectively while prioritising frontline services.

In making its decisions, the council has sought to minimise the impact on services that support Stockport’s most vulnerable residents and businesses. Support remains available for residents experiencing financial hardship through the council’s cost-of-living support offer.

Cllr Jilly Julian, Deputy Leader of Stockport Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, added:

“The national picture for local government remains extremely challenging. Councils across the country are facing rising costs, growing demand for services, and funding that simply hasn’t kept pace. While the multi-year settlement provides welcome certainty in principle, it is not adequate to meet the real pressures we face. Unfortunately, the government settlement is positive for many councils and extremely damaging for others.

“For Stockport, that means making tough choices while keeping an eye on the long term. We’re focused on protecting essential services, supporting our most vulnerable residents, and continuing to push for fairer funding that reflects the real needs of our borough. We will not give up on fairer funding that benefits our residents.

“This budget does not stretch as far as other councils this year, but it does reflect Stockport’s commitment once again to doing more with less. Our teams are working tirelessly to make every pound count, investing in prevention, innovation, and the services that make a real difference in people’s lives. It’s not easy, but we’re focused on keeping Stockport a great place to live, work and visit for everyone.”