Salisbury Lib Dems Unveil "Stable, Responsible and Forward-Looking” Budget for 2026/27

Salisbury Lib Dems Unveil “Stable, Responsible and Forward-Looking” Budget for 2026/27 

Salisbury City Council’s Liberal Democrat Administration has today presented its Budget for 2026/27, setting out a clear plan to protect services, invest in the city, and secure the council’s long-term financial future. 

The budget marks a major milestone after several challenging financial years and confirms the council’s return to a stable and sustainable financial footing. 

“This is a budget that does exactly what we set out to do,” Cllr Sam Charleston, Leader of the Council, said. “It protects services, plans for the future, and puts this council back onto stable financial footing. After some very difficult years, Salisbury City Council is now finally in a genuinely strong position, and this budget is the clearest evidence of that.” 

A Secure Financial Position 

The council is forecasting an underspend of £400,000 for the last financial year, allowing general reserves to be replenished to a responsible and sustainable level. 

“This is not just good accounting,” Cllr Charleston said. “We now have stability, and, crucially, the ability to build capacity so we never return to that position. This budget marks the moment we move from repairing the foundations to building something sustainable on top of them.” 

Planning Properly for the Future 

The 2026/27 budget includes significant forward-looking investment and provision for future pressures, including: 

• £700,000 across years 3-5 for future pressures and future projects 
• £525,000 set aside for the crematorium burner replacement, ensuring essential infrastructure is responsibly planned for 
• £400,000 earmarked for the Poultry Cross, protecting a vital piece of Salisbury’s heritage 
• £250,000 towards the Salisbury Playhouse refurbishment, supporting Wiltshire Creative’s nationally important work 
• £50,000 to support the Salisbury 800 celebrations, marking a historic milestone for the city 

“This is what grown-up financial planning looks like,” Cllr Charleston said. “Not hoping problems go away, but dealing with them before they become crises.” 

Investing in a Better, More Accessible City 

The budget also includes a package of practical, visible investments that will directly benefit residents, including: 

• Long-overdue repairs to the Guildhall ceiling
• £40,000 per year for play park repairs, with the Friary play park among the first to be improved 
• An increase in the Accessibility Budget to £50,000 per year, supporting more inclusive facilities across the city 
• £280,000 for the refurbishment of the Market Place toilets, a cross-party supported project 
• £15,000 per year extra investment in cyber security to protect residents’ data 
• A rolling programme of CCTV system upgrades 
• Staffing increases to improve service delivery 

Amendments to Strengthen the Budget Further 

Thanks to the council’s improving financial position, Full Council also voted for several amendments to invest in several additional positive initiatives, including: 

• A new Christmas lights switch-on event, strengthening Salisbury’s festive offer and supporting the local economy 
• A new HR system, modernising internal processes and improving efficiency and resilience across the organisation 
• Batteries for the depot solar panel system, allowing the council to store energy, reduce costs, and maximise the benefit of its renewable investment 
• A proof of concept for Car-Free Days, allowing the city to trial pedestrian-friendly days and assess their impact on the city centre, businesses, and residents 

What It Means for Council Tax

The budget is delivered with: 

• A 4.99% increase in Year 1 – equivalent to £19 per year, or 39p per week for a Band D household 
• A 3.99% increase in Year 2 
• No increases at all in Years 3, 4 and 5 

A Council Back on Track 

“This council is finally back in a strong position after some very difficult years,” the Administration concluded. “This is a stable budget, a responsible budget, and a forward-looking budget. It protects services, invests in our city, and puts Salisbury City Council back where it should be: planning confidently for the future.”