Council sets sets ambitious and resident focused budget for 2026–2027

Despite inflationary pressures and a challenging funding environment, the Council’s balanced budget continues to prioritise frontline services, community wellbeing and long‑term regeneration, while keeping costs as low as possible for its residents.

The budget is well balanced and responsible and key highlights from the budget are laid out below.

1. Supporting Residents: Council Tax Frozen for 2026/27

In a major boost for households, the District Council is proposing no increase in Council Tax for 2026/27.

This means the District Council’s Band D charge will remain at £198.60, with Band A, the most common band, remaining at £132.40.

This freeze reflects the Council’s commitment to supporting local people during a period of economic uncertainty, cost‑of‑living pressures and upcoming Local Government Reorganisation.

1. Major Investment in District‑Wide Priorities

If approved, the 2026/27 budget outlines significant investment in:

The environment:

• Over £3.7m will be invested in environmental initiatives.
• £100k will be invested in parks and open spaces with a legacy fund for town and parish councils.
• £30k will be invested in future Green Flag parks.
• The Council will expand its environmental behaviour‑change programmes encouraging the reduction of litter and awareness of what to recycle when changes take place in April 2025 for example.

Health, community safety and wellbeing:

• The budget sees continued support for leisure facilities.
• Nearly £1m will be invested in cultural sites and events.
• Funding has been allocated to Newark’s bid for UK Town of Culture.
• Support for terminally ill residents, offering 100% relief to eligible households that are in receipt of Local Council Tax Support.
• The Council will allocate funding to support domestic violence support and community safety programmes.

Housing:

• There will be continued funding for affordable housing and homelessness prevention.
• There will be significant investment in Disabled Facilities Grants and Warm Homes on Prescription schemes.

Economy, Skills and Regeneration:

• The council will remain financially committed to ongoing regeneration of Newark and Sherwood’s town centres.
• The council will commit to supporting major regeneration and development schemes including:
• The regeneration of Yorke Drive and its community facilities.
• The Ollerton town centre regeneration.
• The installation of 3G sports pitches.
• The Castle Gatehouse transformation.
• The development of a new industrial estate at the site of the Clipstone Holding Centre.
• The development of a Community Hub in Bilsthorpe.

Councillor Paul Peacock, Leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “This budget is responsible, ambitious and rooted in the needs of our communities. It reflects a well-run Council, one that can invest, can freeze Council Tax and avoids cuts in services because it is efficient and generates external income.

"We are freezing Council Tax, protecting vital services and investing in the things that matter most, from parks to housing, climate action and major regeneration.

"Newark and Sherwood is in a strong financial position, and this budget makes sure we continue delivering for residents now and in the years ahead.”

You can tune in to listen to the budget which will be presented to Cabinet on the District Council’s website, via the committee calendar located in the footer on the homepage. If approved at Cabinet, the budget will be taken to Full Council for debate and consideration on Thursday 5 March 2026.  Again, this can be viewed via the District Councils website.