Social Value Ideas for Bexley London Borough Council

MTFS gap rising to 2030-31

The updated medium-term financial strategy projects the cumulative budget gap rising to £21.9m by 2030-31, driven by social care, SEN transport, inflation, pay pressures and policy change. Officers st…

“So this report presents the Council's medium -term financial strategy, updated to include the additional year of 2030 -31, over and above the three ye…”

Year-end budget outturn overspend

Cabinet noted the 2025-26 period 12 outturn showing a small overspend, with the main pressures in adult social care and SEN transport offset by underspends elsewhere. This is a financial monitoring it…

“The budget monitoring for P12, the out -term for the 25 -26 year, reported a 208 ,000 pound overspend, which was an improvement of 1 .153 million agai…”

General Fund Budget 2026-27

General Fund budget approved at £271.9 million, representing a 5.1% increase from previous year. This includes £21 million allocated to cover inflation and rising demand in frontline services, with £5…

“The 2026 -27 General Fund is just over 271 .9 million pounds, up 5 .1 percent from last year. After levies and costs, 242 million goes straight to the…”

Revenue Budget Overspend - August 2025

Council reporting £2.184m overspend as of end of August (period 5). Position improved by £68k since last report. Primary overspends in adult and children's social care. Mitigations 61% achieved. Capit…

“we are reporting a 2.184 million pound overspend, which is a small positive movement of 68 K since we last reported. Within that overspend, the most s…”

Unfair Local Government Funding Formula

Council's share of grants funded by central government falling under new fair funding allocation formula. Share falls from 0.00309 in 2025-26 to 0.00288 in 2028-29. In cash terms, fall from £97.6m to …

“The final local government finance settlement confirm the continued dependency for Bexley in relation to capital tax and shows by the end of the 1928 …”

2026-27 Budget - Balanced Budget with Council Tax Increase

Council setting balanced budget for 2026-27 based on council tax increase of 4.99% (2% adult social care precept + 2.99% general). Band D council tax increasing from £1,767.65 to £1,855.85. Budget inc…

“For 2026-27 the report presents a balanced budget on the assumption that council tax inclusive of the increase in social care precepts increases by a …”

Period 9 Budget Overspend - Improved Performance

Council reported £1.762m overspend at end of period 9 (end of December 2025), representing a positive improvement of £176,000 since period 8. Main improvement driven by Place Directorate, specifically…

“We're reporting a £1.762 million overspend, which is a positive improvement of £176,000 since period 8... The main reason for the movement in the righ…”

Library modernisation spend

The council set out a five-year libraries strategy backed by around £2 million of capital funding for refurbishment, technology and service modernisation. Procurement needs include new public PCs, upg…

“So this Council is making significant and sustained investments in our BEXI libraries through our new five -year library strategy. And our strategy se…”

Libraries capital investment

The cabinet member for libraries reported a £2m capital allocation for improving older libraries over the next four years, with planned work on furniture and updates rather than full rebuilds. This is…

“We've got about 590 main libraries and 224 that's thousand both just in case you and yeah there are a few more than that they probably had that one af…”