Southampton City Council wants residents to share their views on how local services are funded and prioritised, as the council prepares to set the budget for 2026/27. Feedback will help influence how services are prioritised and shape the budget.

Ahead of setting its budget for 2026/27, the council has launched a survey to give residents the chance to share their views on how the council should prioritise its spending. Respondents will be asked to rank the importance of different service areas, give their feedback on potential approaches to savings and income generation, and suggest new ideas for improving efficiency. Views will be sought on key council services, including support for vulnerable children and adults, community safety, waste and recycling, housing, transport, parks, libraries, leisure, public health, and more.

The findings from this survey will help inform decisions on how the council sets its spending plans for 2026/27.

Like many local authorities, Southampton City Council continues to operate in a challenging financial environment. Over the past 18 months, the council has made significant progress towards financial sustainability, being on track to save £33 million this year, while continuing to protect vital services and deliver on its vision for a more Equal, Healthier, Safer, Greener, and Growing Southampton. This progress has enabled the council to submit a balanced budget and avoid reliance on Exceptional Financial Support for day-to-day spending, however rising costs and increasing demand for services present ongoing challenges.

Councillor Simon Letts, Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, at Southampton City Council said: “Over the last year, we have made major progress stabilising our finances, thanks to the hard work of our officers and the addition of 11.3 million pounds to our grant funding from the government. This has enabled us not to just set a balanced budget but also to start improving the services the council provides.

“However, with demand for our services continuing to increase, next year we may need to make some difficult choices. This means we want to hear from local people about their priorities and ideas to help shape the council’s budget for next year.”

The budget will be agreed on 25 February 2026 at Full Council.

The survey is open now, until Sunday 21 December 2025, and can be accessed online via the council’s website and hard copies are available at your local library. All feedback will be carefully considered as the council prepares its budget for the year ahead.