Spending plans to strengthen frontline services during the next year have been backed by councillors at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

At a meeting last Thursday (26 February), councillors approved the budget that sets out how the council will fund its services from April 2026, following a public consultation in November and December 2025.

A key focus of the approved budget is extra funding for targeted action to keep streets clean and parks and open spaces looking their best, building on an additional £750,000 in the budget each year since 2024. Plans include a new dedicated jet washing service, following the success of deep cleaning throughout the town centre and other areas around the borough.

The budget will also strengthen the council’s planning service 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.

And as part of the council’s commitment to improve customers’ experience of accessing services, funding has been agreed to expand the use of technology to help respond more quickly and deliver a better experience for residents.

A number of amendments to the budget were approved by councillors on the night. This included £40,000 per year to buy up to 10 speed indicator devices to support targeted enforcement for speeding across the borough and a £200,000 local Business Rates Hardship Fund for the next year. This will support pubs and small businesses facing business rates increases or excluded from national support packages.

The other amendment to the budget that was approved by councillors will see the reintroduction of some one-hour free parking at the Top of the Town for one year.

To help fund the council’s services for the next year, an average 10p per week council tax increase will bring 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. Fees for additional services, such as car parking, will also rise by an average of three per cent to reflect rising costs.

In addition to the budget for everyday services, councillors approved the updated capital budget for the next four years that will see £129 million allocated for projects to boost the borough’s communities. This includes projects to improve Basingstoke Leisure Park, protect vital homelessness facilities, improve community centres and invest in sports facilities across the borough.

Co-Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Property Cllr Gavin James said: “We would like to thank everyone who shared their views during our public consultation, telling us how important our services are to them. We care about our communities and this feedback directly shapes the decisions we make.

“Over the past two years we have prioritised putting more money into our frontline services that shape how people feel about where they live. We are already seeing the impact of this decision – from the work of our teams to keep streets and green spaces clean and tidy, protecting vital emergency accommodation for those at risk of homelessness to continuing our support for community transport and other vital services. I am pleased that councillors backed our budget for the next year to build on this important work.

“Alongside our investment in everyday services, our capital budget includes over £21 million of investment this year alone for projects that will shape our borough for the future. This includes driving forward our plans for a modern new water and leisure complex to replace the Aquadrome and other new attractions at the leisure park, alongside projects to improve our sports and community facilities.”

More information about the budget is available at www.basingstoke.gov.uk/budget2026