More Council support for vulnerable residents after Government funding boost

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Wakefield Council will be offering more support to vulnerable residents after being awarded a three-year funding boost, which will be worth over £4 million for 2026/27, from the Government.

“We’ve been intensively working behind the scenes to make the case for Wakefield to get more resources. The Council and our local MPs have made a strong case to the Government, and it has made a big difference with additional one-off funding over the next three years in our settlement.

“We’ve two important priorities we’re going to use this money for. First, to support our most vulnerable residents with the cost of living. We’re going to be doubling the proposed winter payment for pensioners who receive Council Tax Support from £50 to £100. That will be an additional £100 into the pockets of pensioners struggling the most with the cost of living.

“Second, we’re going to build on our position as a well-run Council that takes long-term decisions. We can only help our residents through our landmark District Investment Fund – which will now be £4.3 million in 2026-27 – because we are stable, act responsibly with public money, and continually invest to improve how we work.”

Leader of Wakefield Council

The Council’s District Investment Fund is reinvesting the profits after the winding-up of Bridge Homes, a Wakefield Council and Vico Homes affordable housing joint venture, now supplemented with additional one-off Government funding. It 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
Help make activity more accessible by providing new, tailored free Aspire Ignite memberships for 16 to 24-year-olds
Provide £110,000 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.

Cllr Jeffery added: “Because this is one-off money, we can’t take reckless decisions that will affect the Council’s future financial stability. Anybody who tells you they can do anything different with the budget this year is being deeply irresponsible and taking a gamble with Wakefield’s future.

“We’ll never take that risk. Our experienced team has provided responsible leadership to get us into a position that we can plan for the future, invest in our frontline essential services, and develop bold plans for the future of our city and towns. That isn’t something people should take for granted.”

If accepted by Cabinet members on 17 February, the 2026/27 budget plans will then move to a special meeting of Full Council for formal consideration on 2 March.

Read more detail in the Cabinet report at Revenue Budget and Council Tax 202627.docx