2026/27 budget approved with £4.3m District Investment Fund launched
Monday, March 02, 2026
Wakefield Council’s budget for 2026/27 has today been approved at a Budget meeting of the Full Council. With a landmark £4.3 million District Investment Fund being officially agreed.
“We’ve taken responsible decisions in Wakefield so we can not only protect essential frontline services, but also invest to help the people in our district who need it most.
“This budget is about investing in what matters most to our residents. Including maintaining our roads and emptying our bins. Improving our parks, green spaces and high streets. Caring for our most vulnerable residents. And giving young people the best possible start in life.
“We will continue to have the lowest Council Tax in West Yorkshire. And our District Investment Fund will help families with the cost of school uniforms and childcare. Improve access to training and leisure opportunities for our young people. And support our most vulnerable pensioners with a winter payment.”
Cllr Denise Jeffery, Leader of Wakefield Council
Leader of Wakefield Council
The £4.3 million District Investment Fund comes from profits after the winding-up of Bridge Homes, a Wakefield Council and Vico Homes affordable housing joint venture. The fund will:
- Provide £2 million of support to local families with school age children to help with the cost of school uniforms
- Give a one-off winter fuel payment of £100 for pension aged recipients of Council Tax support
- Provide £100,000 to support 16 to 18-year-olds to access training and education
- Respond to a shortage of accessible childcare provision with £40,000 of funding
- Help make activity more accessible by providing new, tailored free Aspire Ignite memberships for 16 to 24-year-olds, costing £620,000
- Provide £200,000 to fund police staff and two enforcement officer posts to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.
The 2026/27 budget also includes an update on the Council’s Capital Programme. This includes a significant focus on investment in parks and play areas right across the district. As well as an additional £2 million per year that will be spent over the next three years to improve the condition of roads across the district, £6 million of new investment on one of the top priorities for residents.
The budget will be balanced through work to deliver £11.5 million of savings to modernise how the Council works. And by raising £11.9 million of additional income, including £9.7 million by raising Council Tax and the Adult Social Care Precept by a combined 4.99%.
Wakefield is set to have the lowest Council Tax in West Yorkshire after this increase. It equates to an extra £1.72 per week for Band D households and £1.15 per week for Band A households.
Today’s Council meeting can be watched again at www.youtube.com/live/JZG8oKbXZK0