How the council raises and spends its money, including council tax and savings.
What councils do
Each council sets a budget every year: how much to spend on each service and how much council tax to charge. Council tax pays for about a third; most of the rest is a grant from the Welsh Government and business rates.
Who decides
The Cabinet proposes the budget, usually in the winter, and the full Council agrees it and sets council tax by early March. Scrutiny committees examine the plans first.
Having a say
Most councils run a budget consultation in the autumn or early winter. Your councillors vote on the final budget, so tell them what matters to you.
In numbers
Council tax collected: 95% across Wales (2025-26).
Business rates collected: 96% across Wales (2025-26).
Decided: The committee accepted the report. It noted the Quarter 2 financial and performance position, including the service improvements and positive outcomes for residents.
Decided: Cabinet agreed five things. It accepted the changing environment and the revised assumptions used to develop the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS, the Council's multi-year plan for its finances), and agreed work will continue to refresh it. It delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and the Cabinet Member for Finance and Transformation, the power to put in place any saving before 2027/28 where no policy decision is needed. It agreed the report goes to the Finance Panel for scrutiny (independent examination by councillors). It agreed work continues with the Budget Advisory Group to bring in cross-party views.
Decided: Cabinet unanimously resolved that officers prepare cost estimates for a second grass cut each year. This will let all members judge whether it is affordable, so full Council can decide as part of the forthcoming budget setting process.
Decided: Cabinet accepted the report and approved the budget virement (a move of money between budget headings) set out in it, in line with the Council's Constitution. It noted the use of specific reserves (money set aside for particular purposes), including to support the in-year position and fund the overall overspend.
Decided: Cabinet accepted the report. It agreed that the information be used to challenge the provisional outturn position, significant variances, proposed slippage (spending moved to a later year) and whether financial controls are adequate to safeguard Council resources.
Decided: Cabinet accepted the report and approved its contents. The minute also lists the budget virements in the report and the application of reserves, including forecast use of reserves to support the in-year position and fund the forecast overspend, noting the effect on the Council's reserves.
Decided: Cabinet accepted the report. It agreed that members provide appropriate challenge to the financial outcomes, continue to support the financial control procedures agreed by Council, and note the budget control and monitoring procedures in the Capital Team.
Decided: Cabinet approved the change to the design brief for the Gowerton School (Secondary) Sustainable Communities for Learning project. It approved and committed a revised sum of £2,523,285 for the pre-construction phase to the capital programme. This is £4,557,600 less than the £7,080,885 approved on 17 July 2025.
Decided: Cabinet approved receiving and committing the £2,962,397 additional 2026-27 Welsh Government grant to the capital programme for school repairs and maintenance, subject to the final grant award and conditions. It noted that schemes are still being developed. These may include roofing at YGG Bryn Tawe, works at Cefn Hengoed Community School, school-identified priorities such as toilet upgrades, early design for 2027/28 schemes, health, safety and safeguarding risks, and new heating for four primary schools on oil-fired boilers. It delegated to the Director of Education and the Director of Place the choice and priority of schemes. It also delegated to the Director of Finance and the Director of Education the power, if needed, to swap up to £1,533,800 of the grant for core capital funding already allocated to Education projects. The equivalent unsupported borrowing would move to the 2027-2028 programme.