The council has agreed its budget for the next financial year during a Full Council meeting (28 Jan), ensuring vital local services are protected while continuing to invest in the town’s future...
Like councils across the country, Watford Borough Council has faced significant financial challenges due to inflation, rising costs, and increased demand for services such as housing and homelessness. Over the past decade, the council’s grant funding from central government has been cut by more than 50% in real terms, making financial planning increasingly difficult.
Despite these pressures, the council has agreed on a balanced budget that prioritises protecting essential services and delivering key projects that improve the quality of life for local residents. Highlights of the budget 2025/26 include:
- Cultural Investment: Funding for the reopening and transformation of the Watford Colosseum in September 2025, alongside plans for a new Museum of Watford in the Town Hall in 2026.
- Sustainability Initiatives: Continued work to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, with investments in electric vehicle infrastructure, tree planting, and energy efficiency upgrades, including £261,000 to replace the Council’s fleet with electric vehicles.
- Housing Support: Enhanced resources for temporary accommodation and homelessness prevention to address the ongoing housing crisis.
- Greener Spaces: Investment of £50,000 for improved footpaths in Cassiobury Park and the nature reserve, £25,000 for shrub replacements, and £247,000 for the restoration of the River Colne and Cassiobury Wetlands.
- Infrastructure and Accessibility: £466,000 allocated to cycle and road improvements, £200,000 for the second phase of St Albans Road upgrades, and £100,000 for shopping parade improvements. £37 million allocated to the Capital Investment Programme for essential infrastructure, upgrading public spaces and community projects.
The £466,000 allocated to cycle and road improvements will help improve the Green Loop
Elected Mayor Peter Taylor said: “I am proud that we have agreed a budget which ensures Watford continues to thrive while protecting the services and projects that matter most to our residents. In the face of soaring costs and limited government support, we’re taking tough decisions and investing wisely to deliver for our community.
“Our priority is to deliver excellent services for all our residents, ensuring good value for money. This budget allows us to protect those most in need, make Watford more sustainable, and deliver on the commitments I made to our community. Together, we are making Watford an even better place to live, work, and visit.”
To ensure continued investment in the town’s growth and stability while maintaining core services such as waste collection, leisure facilities, and housing support, councillors have agreed to increase Watford Borough Council’s portion of council tax by 2.99%—equivalent to less than 17p per week for a Band D property. This rise is below the rate of inflation of 3.4% in October 2024 and 3.6% in November 2024.
Hertfordshire Country Council, who receives the largest share of council tax revenue and the Police and Crime Commission, have yet to finalise their council tax figures, so the final 2024-25 amount that Watford residents will pay next year will be announced in March.
