Budget Amendment Proposal
Trafford Council 2026/27 Budget
Submitted by the Conservative Opposition
Background
Time constraints imposed by the Administration have seen any attempts to engage in meaningful conversations limited. It has been made clear by the Section 151 Officer that any budget amendment that doesn’t include a Council Tax Rise of 7.5% will be deemed imprudent. 7.5% and borrowing to fund day to day spending is unacceptable to the Conservative Group but clearly acceptable to the Labour administration.
In the Spirit of constructive engagement, we present an amendment/alternate budget which would have delivered for our residents, the Conservative Group have the backbone to make the difficult decisions and deliver for residents.
A briefing was provided on the afternoon of Wednesday 18 February 2026, requiring submission of a £273 million alternative budget to the Section 151 Officer by 23 February for approval by the Monitoring Officer on 24 February, effectively allowing less than 24 working hours for development and review.
The Section 151 Officer has confirmed that major areas of the alternative proposals could not be fully reviewed within this timeframe. We have sought to engage with this process in October, November and December of 2025.
In March 2025 Trafford Council faced a financial crossroads and chose to continue a path reliant upon:
- Exceptional Financial Support (EFS)
- A 7.5% Council Tax increase (one of the highest nationally)
- Borrowing for day-to-day expenditure (£10m)
The Conservative Group warned this approach was unsustainable. One year later, the Council is again:
- Proposing a 7.5% Council Tax increase
- Increasing borrowing for revenue spending to £13m
This is not a long-term solution. It represents a continuation of short-term financial management without structural reform. And relies on the good residents of Trafford to foot the bill. There remains no coherent long-term strategy to restore financial sustainability and avoid Section 114 risk.
The Administration’s approach continues to rely upon:
- Lobbying central government for additional funding
- Hoping for improved future settlements
The recent Fair Funding Settlement has demonstrated that this strategy is unreliable.
Trafford requires structural reform, not incremental short-term measures. The current administration lacks the courage to challenge their own status quo.
Costs borne by Trafford residents on behalf of the Labour Government, Labour Mayor and Labour Council.
£3.9 million National Insurance adverse impact
£1.0 million MRP & interest costs for 2025/2026 £10million bailout
£1.3 million MRP & interest costs for 2026/2027 £13million bailout
Purchase of Cara House & Lynwood House in 2020 approx. 60 care beds quickly removed from the market through poor due diligence prior to purchase.
£2 million wasted developing and aborted school extension at Altrincham College of Arts
£8 million in home to school transport by failing to address the issue five years ago
Time overruns on the redevelopment of Altrincham Leisure Centre lost revenue unknown
Repeated highways failures following poor management requiring repeated repairs
The above is just sample but highlights the ongoing mismanagement of this administration.
The Conservative Group believes:
- The current budget is unsustainable.
- Continued borrowing for revenue expenditure increases long-term risk.
- Structural workforce and estate reform is required.
- Frontline services must be protected through reduction of non-frontline overhead.
- Financial sustainability must be prioritised over political delay.
Immediate Proposals (2026/27)
The following measures can be implemented immediately.
Workforce and Departmental Reductions
Based on advice from the Section 151 Officer, the following proposals do not undermine overall financial robustness:
- Communications Department – reduce by 60%
- Estimated saving: £250,000
- Equality Department – reduce by 100%
- Estimated saving: £65,000
- Net Zero Team – reduce by 75% (1.125 FTE)
- Estimated saving: £95,250
These measures represent prioritisation of core statutory services.
Using the clear savings available from the immediate proposals complete with the much-needed structural reform set out below set the council tax below the referendum limit for social care at 2% and council tax at 2.99%.
Hiring Freeze
- Implement a council-wide hiring freeze (subject to protection of frontline statutory services).
- Existing restrictions already apply to non-frontline areas; this would formalise and extend financial discipline.
- Detailed service impact assessment to be undertaken through budget planning process.
In year investment in Roads and Drains– £1,500,000
The Greater Manchester Mayor’s decision to fund the £17m GMCA contribution via Mayoral precept releases £1.5m of Trafford reserves previously earmarked for TfGM.
Proposal:
- Redirect the £1.5m to Trafford’s highways budget.
- Invest in modern road repair technology such as Pothole Pro and proactive road asset management.
- Move from reactive “patch and repair” approaches to preventative maintenance.
- Deliver in-year efficiency savings, 30-50% utilising modern equipment and reduce long-term maintenance liabilities.
Medium-Term Structural Reform
The Council must formally acknowledge that the current financial model is unsustainable and begin structured reform.
Workforce Restructuring
- Reduce overall workforce costs to 2017 levels.
- Initial target: 5% reduction (~£5m if applied to £100m staffing base).
- Ambition: move toward 10% reduction in non-frontline areas.
- Savings target: £10m (phased).
Frontline services to be protected wherever possible.
Further detailed development required before full financial assessment.
Sale Waterside Office Rationalisation
- Progress relocation of services to Trafford Town Hall.
- Maximise hybrid working and hot-desking.
- Review long-term accommodation strategy in preparation to PFI expiry in 2028.
- Deliver estate rationalisation savings (subject to capital and leasing considerations identified by S151 Officer).
- Consolidate the Music service into the Waterside Arts Centre solidifying Trafford’s music and Arts offer. Enhancing facilities while allowing for further opportunities for development.
Further detailed development required before full financial assessment.
Education and Home-to-School Transport
Current expenditure exceeds £8m on home-to-school taxi transport.
Proposal:
- The administration has argued that all efficiency savings through route rationalisation and procurement reform have been achieved.
- Accepting that some cost will remain in Home to School Transport
- £4m of this would fund C.£40m capital over a 20-year period
- Trafford must engage with a partner of Multi Academy Trust and develop a case for a new Free School for South Trafford.
- In conjunction with the MAT, parents and other partners work up a case for a Free School utilising to protect educational outcomes while reducing waste on transport.
Further detailed development required before full financial assessment.
Council resolves to:
- Incorporate this amendment into the 2026/27 budget.
- Immediately implement:
- 60% reduction in Communications (£250k saving)
- 100% reduction in Equality (£65k saving)
- 75% reduction in Net Zero (1.125 FTE – £95,250 saving)
- £1.5m allocation to roads and drains (upon release of reserves)
- Council-wide hiring freeze (with frontline protection)
- Acknowledge the need for structural reform and instruct:
- Section 151 Officer
- Chief Executive
- Directors
to develop a workforce and estate restructuring plan delivering:
- Reduction toward 2017 staffing levels
- Targeting £10m workforce savings
- Estate rationalisation plan towards-2028
- Embark on a project to secure a partner to deliver a Free school to include specialist SEND provision in the South of the borough to address the inequality of provision and need.