Pendle Borough Council met for its annual, and penultimate, Budget meeting last night. Here's the lowdown on this year's Council Tax and plans.
No Council Tax for terminally ill residents
article link
Pendle Council Leader David Whipp (Lib Dem)
"I think the significant issue here is that we are introducing support, but in effect it means people who have households with terminally ill people will not have to pay Council Tax, subject to a few rules around that, I think that's a significant improvement. Cllr Yasser Iqbal (PTI) proposed a motion on this a few meetings ago and quite a lot of work has been done on this and I think it's an improvement, humanitarian in intent, and will make it a lot easier for people who are in very difficult circumstances indeed, to manage in those very very difficult months at end of life care."
Budget 2026/27
Reflection of the past financial year's achievements:
- December 2025, finally adopted the Local Plan after 10 years of deliberation.
- Investment in sports & leisure centres
Council Leader, David Whipp, said:
"A significant success is the investment in our sports and leisure centres. A few years ago we were being told at least one swimming pool had to close or we had to have cold water swimming. I'm proud we've invested to clear a backlog of repairs and are investing in energy efficiency to make centres as financially and environmentally sustainable as possible and give them the best start in whatever new council we get lumbered with."
- Progress with projects through the Nelson Town Deal
- Start the Pride in Place programme - £20m over 10 years for Nelson
- The Impact Fund - 50 projects funded across the borough: play areas, community spaces, sports facilities and public realm improvements
- Empty Homes strategy - £600k Compulsory purchase scheme for long-term empty properties
- Colne Market - coming to completion, opening May 2026
- Winding up PEARL/Brierfield Mill joint venture - 100s of jobs, 80 new homes, Leisurebox, Lancashire Adult Learning
- PEARL & PenBrook - continue to help the Council reach its ambitions. Spring Mill, Earby, latest project nearing completion. PenBrook heavily involved in Nelson regeneration
Financial Forecast
Underspend reduced from over £700k earlier in the financial year, to just £78k most recently.
Financial settlement from Government - following the Fair Funding Review funding remains stagnant:
"Our assessed funding needs are less than the baseline level that the Government considers we need to deliver services," said Council Leader, David Whipp.
Forecast to lose £227k from Business Rates adjustments - will impact next year's budget.
Next year's budget will be the final Pendle Council budget before Local Government Reorganisation.
 |
| Pendle Rise redevelopment is a priority |
2026/27 Key Priorities
- Implement the Government's Food Waste Collection Scheme from April 2026
- Redevelopment of Pendle Rise
- Development of new cemetery in Nelson, and Gill cemetery, Barnoldswick
- Deliver Pride in Place programme
- Accelerate transfer of local assets to town and parish councils
- Bring forward proposals for housing sites such as Bunker's Hill, Colne, and Bankhouse road, Nelson, and start Further Clough Head development, as well as complete Spring Mill, Earby
- Continue to bring empty homes back in to use
- Continue our work to accommodate the homeless
- Renters right act - protect tenants from rogue landlords, and landlords from poor tenants
- Ensure crisis and resilience fund is distributed in the best way to support residents
- Continue to reduce carbon emissions as set out in the Council's climate strategy
Savings
The Pension Fund is 135% funded. Council has negotiated employer contributions resulting in a £2m saving over next 3 years.
Increased funding to Pendle Leisure Trust of £150k who have reduced annual their management fee by £300k this year.
Councillor David Cockburn-Price (Con), called on the Council to return some of the savings to the taxpayer.
Legacy Fund
Legacy Fund - Capital project reserves unlikely to be used before LGR. Use this money to create a Legacy Fund - starting with £500k - to increase funding to area committees and town and parish councils - for them to decide where to spend. £250k to Area committees, £250k town and parish councils for one-off legacy schemes.
Conservative opposition Leader, Ash Sutcliffe, said:
"So bereft of any ideas, make up a Legacy Fund, which sounds kinda good in a way, but then we really need to hope it doesn't just end up as a giant photo opportunity to take for Councillor Whipp and his best TV and Facebook moments with Councillor Mahmood, who will be smiling and agreeing somewhere in the background."
Apprenticeships
£150k for investment in apprenticeships.
Council Tax
Council Tax increase by 2.99%
 |
| Conservative leader, Ash Sutcliffe criticised the Budget |
Conservative opposition Leader, Ash Sutcliffe, said:
"It's clear yet again that the Lib Dem - Independent coalition that runs Pendle has abandoned any efforts to balance the budget or reduce the pressure to our precious reserves. They have abandoned any efforts to go in to Local Government Reorganisation with our heads held high and with the resources to keep delivering high quality services in whatever unitary we find ourselves in. Instead we're set to look like the poor relation.
Pendle needs ambition, it needs creativity, it needs culture it needs flexibility, energy and action. I can see none of that. The budget tabled by the coalition clearly illustrate this."
LINKS
VIDEO: Pendle Borough Council Special Budget Meeting