Barnet Council to review council tax and bin collections to close £200m gap

Barnet Council will ask residents to pay more in council tax and accept less frequent bin collections as part of a plan to close a £200 million budget gap by March 2029. The proposals follow a report by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (Cipfa) that recommends reviewing the borough’s historically low Band D council tax, currently set at £2,060.

The council’s cabinet will vote on a financial sustainability plan on 12 October 2026. Cllr Simon Radford, Cabinet Member for Financial Sustainability, said the borough needs "national policy intervention" to address the deficit, as reported by the Barnet Post. The council has already cut its reliance on exceptional financial support by £10 million but warns that demand for statutory services is growing twice as fast as income.

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Council tax rise and bin collection changes proposed

Cipfa’s report suggests Barnet should bring its council tax levels closer to those expected by central government. The council has already assumed a 5% increase, which would raise the Band D rate to £1,703. Any further rise would require government approval or a local referendum. Radford said the council would prioritise savings before asking residents to pay more, as reported by the Barnet Post.

The report also recommends aligning bin collection frequency with other boroughs. Barnet currently offers weekly collections but plans to switch to fortnightly waste collections next year to boost recycling rates. The change is part of a cross-party effort to meet a 50% recycling target set by the North London Joint Waste Strategy.

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Demand for services outstrips funding

Barnet Council said demand for statutory services, such as adult social care, is growing at twice the rate of its income. The council has reduced the cost of adult social care below the national average per adult while maintaining top-quartile performance, as reported by the Barnet Post. However, Radford warned that cutting non-statutory spending would only save £18 million, a fraction of the £200 million gap.

The council’s older population is a key driver of rising costs. Radford said the situation reflects the "Graph of Doom" prediction made 15 years ago, which warned that without reform, local government and the NHS would face collapse. He called for faster resolution on adult social care funding from central government.

Residents to be consulted on budget plans

Barnet Council will begin a public consultation after the summer holidays. The financial sustainability plan will be discussed at cabinet on 12 October 2026. Radford said the council is committed to an "open and honest conversation" with residents about the difficult decisions ahead.