HARLOW Council has published its biggest-ever budget, proposing a record £350 million investment to “Build Harlow’s Future” while freezing Council Tax for the fifth consecutive year.

The council’s 2026 budget proposals, released today, will go to Cabinet on 26 February ahead of a final decision by Full Council on 5 March.

The budget doubles the council’s overall spending compared with just two years ago – from £173 million in 2024/25 and £244 million in 2025/26 to £350 million in 2026/27. This has been achieved whilst ensure the council’s budget is fully funded, with no shortfalls or unidentified savings required, ensuring financial security and transparency. There are also no cuts or closures to services, but rather increased investment across the board. All financial rules and checks have been followed for the lifetime of the budget, demonstrating robust governance and responsible financial management.

Key headlines of the budget include:

General Fund Budget – for day-to-day services

The council’s share of Council Tax remains frozen for the fifth consecutive year and will continue to be frozen throughout the budget period, meaning the average Harlow household continues to pay just £4.93 per week for all Harlow Council services – the same as they did in 2021.

The whole budget is fully funded, with no shortfalls or unidentified savings required, ensuring financial security and transparency.

All financial rules and checks are fully complied with across the lifetime of the budget, demonstrating robust governance and responsible financial management.

All six council missions are fully funded, including their associated outcomes and projects, supporting the council’s long-term vision for Building Harlow’s Future.

The budget remains balanced over the entire budget period, with no gaps or reliance on unidentified savings, ensuring ongoing financial stability.

There are no cuts to or closures of services, but rather increased investment in valued services such as Pets’ Corner, Harlow Playhouse, Harlow Museum, supported housing, Leah Manning Centre, Town Park, paddling pools, and splash parks.

Investment is also rising for all essential day-to-day services, including bin collections, street cleansing, landscaping and parks maintenance, housing repairs, and supported housing.

Nearly all fees and charges remain frozen, including free car parking and free access to popular services like Pets’ Corner, Harlow Museum, paddling pools, and splash parks.

The budget makes full provision for increased cost pressures, notably those arising from higher National Insurance contributions.

Significant internal transformation is underway, focused on reducing waste, increasing efficiency, and ensuring that every pound is directed towards delivering council missions.

All discretionary services such as Pets’ Corner, Harlow Playhouse, Harlow Museum, supported housing, Leah Manning Centre, Town Park, paddling pools, and splash parks will be incorporated into the base budget by 2027, safeguarding them from reliance on reserves to fund their day-to-day costs.

Prudent and adequate reserves are maintained throughout the budget period, underpinning financial resilience and future sustainability particularly in respect of Local Government Reorganisation, the council’s own transformation and delivery of its major regeneration programme.

The notable increase in spending is made possible by:

Strong and growing income from commercial assets, providing a reliable revenue stream year after year.
A clear focus on prioritising resources to deliver the council’s six missions.
Decisive action regarding asset management, ensuring assets are aligned with the council’s objectives.

Housing Revenue Account (HRA) – for council housing services

Overall, the council’s investment in council homes and housing services is set to be £179.046 million in 2026/27. This represents a 31 percent increase in overall investment compared with the 2025/26 budget as set in February 2025 and is 137 percent higher than in 2021/22.

Investment per property rises from around £9,000 per council house in 2021/22 to around £20,000 per council house in 2026/27.

The total HRA for 2026/27 is £67.7 million which is up from the £61.4 million in 2025/26 (last year), £58.7 million in 2024/25 (two years ago) and £56.9 million in 2021/22 (five years ago).

All revenue and capital investment requests from the housing services and from the corporate budget setting process have been met in full.

All outcomes and projects associated with the ‘invest in our housing’ mission are fully funded.

The HRA Business Plan is sustainable for 30-years, with no gaps or reliance on unidentified savings, ensuring ongoing financial stability.

The Government’s Rent Settlement has been implemented meaning the average rent will rise by £5.53, from £115.23 to £120.76 per week.

All financial rules and checks are fully complied with across the 30-year Business Plan, demonstrating robust governance and responsible financial management.
There are no cuts to or closures of housing services, but rather increased investment across the board.

Capital Programmes – for major upgrades

The Non-Housing Capital Programme – which invests into rebuilding the town centre and upgrading community facilities – has seen substantial growth, rising to £92.7 million in 2026/27. This compares to £39.7 million in 2025/26 (last year) and £22 million in 2024/25 (two years ago), with a notable increase from just £7.6 million in 2021/22 (five years ago).

The Housing Capital Programme – which invests into upgrading existing council homes and building new ones – for 2026/27 stands at £111.3 million, up from £75.2 million in 2025/26 (last year), £52.8 million in 2024/25 (two years ago), and £18.5 million in 2021/22 (five years ago). This demonstrates a consistent and significant investment in housing year-on-year.

The entire Capital Programme is fully and sustainably funded through the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA), ensuring robust financial health both now and as projected for future years.

All financial rules and checks are fully complied with across the lifetime of the budget period, demonstrating robust governance and responsible financial management.

Announcing the record budget, Councillor Dan Swords, Leader of Harlow Council, said:

“This is the biggest budget in Harlow Council’s history, and it marks another major step change in how we deliver for our town. While many councils across the country are being forced to raise Council Tax and cut back on services, we are doing things differently. We are transforming the council so that it delivers more, invests more, and improves more – all without asking residents to pay a penny more. To put it clearly: we are doubling our budget compared to just two years ago and you are not paying a penny more for it.

“This record £350 million investment means we can build Harlow’s future to: transform our council, rebuild our town, invest in our housing, renew our neighbourhoods, secure our future and protect our communities, focusing on all the things that our residents can genuinely see improving. Every single service will receive more funding, every mission will be fully supported, and we will freeze Council Tax for the fifth year in a row.

“Councils should make life easier, not more difficult. Harlow deserves a council that works harder, thinks differently and delivers real results. This budget does exactly that – it puts residents first and invests in Building Harlow’s Future.”

Councillor James Leppard, Cabinet Member for Finance, added:

“This budget shows what is possible when a council is ambitious, financially disciplined and completely focused on delivering for residents. A £350 million investment is not just a number – it means improved council homes, upgraded community facilities, better neighbourhoods and services that make a real difference to people’s daily lives.

“While many councils might be putting forward cuts, closures and Council Tax rises, Harlow is taking a different path. We are proving that you can modernise services, invest in the future and protect residents from rising costs all at the same time.

“This would not be possible without transforming the way the council works: driving efficiency, strengthening financial management and ensuring every pound is spent where it matters most. This budget is about delivering improvements residents can see and feel – and Building Harlow’s Future.”