South Kesteven District Council approves 2026/27 Budget

South Kesteven District Council has approved its budget for the year ahead.

It includes plans to build strong communities, support vulnerable people and protect the environment.

Community projects benefit from an allocation of £300,000 and a programme of events across the District include preparations for the Newton 300 festival, which will be a celebration in 2027 of Lincolnshire’s most famous son.

For the first time in many years, councillors voted to increase financial support for Citizens Advice – an organisation which offers support to people legal and financial difficulties.

Another eye-catching proposal is the introduction of mobile CCTV to deter illegal fly-tipping across the district.

The council also agreed a 2.99% increase to its share of Council Tax equivalent to an extra 11p per week, which is annual average increase of £5.66 for Band D properties.

Council Leader Cllr Ashley Baxter said: “SKDC’s element of the Council Tax pays for the delivery of effective council services. Our focus remains on our five priorities: communities, environment, economy, housing and good governance.

“The modest increase helps to fund essential frontline services including refuse collection, street cleaning, planning, housing and CCTV.

“Tackling environmental crime, enabling economic opportunity and public events are also important public duties that we must pay for.”

Council Tax bills for 2026/27 will soon land on doorsteps across the district.

They increase the average amount a household would pay for services provided by SKDC from £189.37 to £195.03 in 2026/27.

Out of every £1 of Council Tax collected by SKDC, 74p goes to Lincolnshire County Council and 15p to the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire.

SKDC receives around 9p of each £1 collected, of which about 2p is passed on to town or parish councils.

The SKDC share pays for more than 100 services that it provides, from bin collections and social housing to ensuring takeaway and restaurant food is safe to eat.

For 2026/27, starting in April, the average Council Tax for a Band D property in South Kesteven will be £195.03 made up of:

Lincolnshire County Council – £1673.01
Police and Crime Commissioner – £333.09
South Kesteven District Council – £195.03
Parish/Town Council average – £58.87
Discounts and exemptions are available to some Council Taxpayers.

Full details can be found at www.southkesteven.gov.uk/benefits-and-support.

Help is available for those struggling to pay, including advice on benefits they may be entitled to, contact details of other agencies that may be able to offer support or setting up an arrangement to pay off arrears.

For information on Council Tax Support, go to www.southkesteven.gov.uk/benefits-and-support, or contact SKDC’s Revenue and Benefits Team direct on 01476 406080 (option 1).

Other agencies that may be able to help include: South Lincs Citizens Advice – 0808 278 7996; StepChange Debt Charity – 0800 138 1111; National Debtline – 0808 808 4000.

A snapshot of some of the services provided by SKDC:

Abandoned vehicles; Council tax collection; Air quality; Alcohol, entertainment and leisure licensing; Allotments; Animal welfare licensing; Anti-social behaviour and community safety; Appeal your council tax bill; Appealing benefit claim decisions; Armed Forces Community Covenant; Arts centres and venues; Arts, leisure and culture; Benefits; Bins, street care, recycling and commercial waste; Bourne Corn Exchange; Building Control; Bulky waste collections; Business rates; Business rates relief; Car Parks; CCTV; Climate Change and Sustainability; Club premises certificate; Economic Development; Elections and voting; Emergency planning and business continuity; Environmental health; Food Hygiene Rating Scheme; Gambling and lotteries licensing; Garages to rent; Garden waste collections; Grants and assistance; Grass cutting, verges and trees; Heritage and tourism; Help with homelessness or those at risk of being homeless; Household Support Fund Grant; Housing; Listed Buildings; Local Land Charges; Markets and street trading; Mutual home exchange; Noise and pollution; Parks and playing fields; Planning (Development Management); Register to Vote; Safeguarding; South Kesteven Prosperity Fund; Sports and leisure; Street lighting; Street Name and Numbering; Taxi and private hire vehicle, driver and operator licensing; Temporary Event Notices; Youth Council.