Draft budget set to go to full council
Published
Thursday 5 February, 2026
Updated
Thursday 5 February, 2026
Swale Borough Council's Policy and Resources Committee has recommended a balanced budget that protects key services local people value.
The budget proposals, including investment in leisure centres and homes for local people, will now go to the full council for approval on 18 February.
More than 450 people took part in the council’s consultation on the draft budget.
Residents were clear that the council should prioritise local environmental services like street cleaning and waste and recycling collections.
Almost three-quarters (73%) of respondents supported proposals to make back-office efficiencies to help meet the £1.9m budget gap caused by inflation and the rising cost of supporting local households facing homelessness.
Cllr Tim Gibson, chair of the Policy and Resources Committee, said:
"You told us that the local environment – things like clean streets and reliable waste collections – were your top priority. We listened, and these proposals protect those vital services.
"You also supported the proposed £2 million investment in our leisure centres. This will deliver essential maintenance and infrastructure improvements to keep them operating for years to come.
“We’ve also identified nearly £1 million in savings inside the council to keep costs down and balance the budget.
"We are also proposing a freeze to garden waste charges as a way of supporting people using our service.
“I strongly believe the proposed £212.76 annual cost for a band D property – an increase of less than 12p a week – still provides great value for the range of key services we provide to local people.”
Key proposals in the budget ahead include:
- A 2.96% increase in Swale’s share of the council tax bill to £212.76 a year – a rise of less than 12p a week for a Band D household.
- Freezing subscription charges for the garden waste service for 2026/27.
- Reviewing services, including bringing consultant work in-house, to find savings and efficiencies
- Changes to parking charges
Swale Borough Council only keeps a small percentage of the council tax we collect.
The money is shared between Kent County Council (KCC), Kent & Medway Fire and Rescue, Kent Police and Crime Commissioner, and parish and town councils, where these exist.
In 2025/26 the split was:
- KCC - 73%
- Kent Police - 12%
- SBC - 9%
- Kent Fire - 4%
- Parishes - 2%
The full report on the budget proposals are available on the agenda page for the Policy and Resources committee meeting.
