Residents, businesses and community groups are being encouraged to share their views on Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s spending plans to strengthen the delivery of frontline services over the next year.

Last night (11 November), the council’s decision-making Cabinet agreed to go out to public consultation on budget proposals that set out how the council plans to fund its services for the next year from April 2026.

Building on the additional £750,000 that has been added to the budget for the past two years as part of targeted action to keep streets clean and parks and open spaces looking their best, additional funding is being proposed for this service. This includes the introduction of a new dedicated jet washing service, following the success of deep cleaning throughout the town centre and other areas around the borough.

To support the co-ordinated delivery and collection of funding for vital infrastructure and to support ongoing work to investigate breaches of planning permissions and conditions, additional investment is also being proposed for the council’s planning service.

And as part of the council’s commitment to improve customers’ experience of accessing services, investment is being proposed to use technology to enhance responsiveness to deliver a better overall experience for residents.

Alongside the revenue budget plans, the council is continuing to shape its proposals for its capital budget for the next year to be considered by Cabinet and Council in February. Proposals currently being developed include investment in sports pitches and other improvements for Down Grange Sports Complex alongside funding for other tennis and netball courts in the borough and funding to improve community facilities.

To help fund the council’s services, an average 10p per week council tax increase is proposed, bringing the borough’s part of the council tax to £151.42 a year for the average household. This is still likely to make Basingstoke and Deane one of the lowest districts in Hampshire, and most of the country, for council tax. Charges for additional services the council provides, such as car parking, are also proposed to increase by an average of three per cent to reflect the rising costs to deliver these services.

Co-Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Property Cllr Gavin James said: “In the last two years we have taken the decision to put extra funding into the services that we know make a real difference to how people feel about where they live. At a time when many other councils are having to cut their services, we are not only continuing with this investment but actively looking at ways we can improve our services all the time.

“This investment is paying off and we are seeing the difference that these decisions are making on issues that matter most to our residents. From the work of our Make a Difference teams to keep our spaces clean and tidy, protecting vital services for those at risk of homelessness through our refurbishment of May Place House, funding support for community transport and much more, we are driving positive change. That is why our proposals for next year’s budget include funding to allow us to continue this important work.

“While we continue to be able to invest in our services, we need to continue to manage our resources carefully to address a £490,000 budget gap identified in 2028/29. To sustain this investment while making it as fair as we can for the tax payer and those who use our additional services, we are proposing a small rise in council tax and our fees and charges.

“The feedback that we get from residents form the basis of our budget planning every year but we want to make sure that our proposals for the 2026/27 budget continue to reflect what matters most to communities. We want residents, businesses and community organisations to share their views to shape our final proposals which will be considered in February.”

More information on the proposals, and the opportunity to give views in the consultation that runs until Sunday 4 January 2026, is available on the website at www.basingstoke.gov.uk/budget2026