Camden Council ‘taking bold action to create a fairer borough’ as new budget is passed
Camden councillors have agreed a budget to meet demand for services and help residents who need support the most.
The Council’s annual budget meeting (Monday 3 March) agreed to raise Council Tax by 4.99% for 2025-2026 to sustain funding for essential services and renew support to alleviate pressures in areas like social care.
The rise will also enable continued investment in welfare schemes which directly help Camden’s most financially vulnerable residents.
This includes investing £32million in Camden’s Council Tax Support scheme – one of the most generous such schemes in the country – which means 22,000 Camden residents will receive some support with their Council Tax, and of these, around 16,000 residents will not pay any Council Tax at all.
Camden Council is also renewing its £2million Cost of Living Fund, which provided over 3,308 awards of up to £500 to over 2,400 households last year.
"Camden is stepping up to deliver a balanced budget that sustains services, invests in our residents and ensures that our most vulnerable are protected.
“We want residents to see for themselves that every pound is put to good use – and that we are delivering our agenda to ensure no-one in Camden is left behind. Our new tax on second homes, which will directly support homelessness prevention, is an example of how we’re taking bold action to create a fairer borough.
“Our strong track record in managing our money means that we do not find ourselves in the same extreme financial position as some other councils. However, our budget is under significant pressure and we are having to make some tough decisions to balance the books, while protecting those residents who would be most vulnerable to an increase in council tax.”
What is Council Tax spent on?
The 4.99% rise in council tax consists of a 2.99% increase to support general council funding and a 2% rise ring-fenced for adult social care.
Council tax directly funds frontline services such as libraries, youth centres, family centres, street cleaning, keeping our community safe and looking after adults and children who need extra support. A separate levy included in Council Tax payments is allocated to the Greater London Authority, helping to fund Transport for London, Police and the London Fire Brigade. This levy has increased by 4.03%.
Key spending commitments for 2025-2026
- Nearly £75m in early years schools, with Camden’s Children’s Services rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted.
- Investing £33.7m on street cleaning, including increased environmental enforcement against flytipping and littering, and rubbish and recycling collections.
- Allocating £24.5m to prevent homelessness and support homeless people to regain and maintain a full time home.
- Investing £11.1m on new children’s social care residential property.
- Investing £10m in more social housing.
- £5m in our local voluntary and community sector, helping to fund advice on food, debt and loneliness, ‘warm welcome’ spaces, free events and activities.
- £1.16m in Good Work Camden which, in 2024-2025 so far, has supported 646 people into work or training, or to start a business.
- Investing £400,000 to support those struggling with energy bills by helping to reduce their energy usage.
- £250,000 in our Family Crisis Fund to help ensure no child goes hungry, including free breakfast clubs and supermarket vouchers.