Chichester District Council should be able to balance books for next financial year
Chichester District Council should be able to balance its books for 2026/27, barring any unpleasant surprises in the government’s budget.
The news was shared by leader Adrian Moss during a meeting of the full council on Tuesday (November 18).
Mr Moss said: “The council is in a good financial position, with substantial interest receipts and reserves available to support the revenue budget in the short term, if required.”
The meeting saw the Financial Strategy & Plan for 2026/27-2030/31 agreed and a minimum level of £4m maintained for general reserves.
The strategy and plan forecast the council’s finances for the coming years, identifying any potential funding gaps at an early stage to ensure they are addressed ‘in a considered and measured way’. They also help the council to set its budget and council tax for 2026/27.
Questions were asked about future government funding when it came to providing temporary accommodation for the homeless.
Roy Briscoe (Con, Westbourne) said the council had been ‘very good’ at this over the years but wondered if that would impact on the grant amount received.
The answer was yes – there is a risk that the Homelessness Prevention Grant will be significantly reduced in 2026/27, with the money being used in other areas – such as London – where the government feels it is needed more.
To prepare for this, £412,000 has been included in the strategy and plan to allow for a possible 45 per cent reduction in the grant.
Mr Moss said the council was taking a ‘proactive view’ in terms of how it managed homelessness. He added: “What we have been doing over recent years is finding ways to ensure that we don’t use bed and breakfast – or use it to the absolute minimum – and that will continue and we will look to make investments to ensure that doesn’t happen.”