The Finance, Policy and Resources Committee is scheduled to convene on Monday 22 June 2026, with a key focus on the future of Richmond Town Centre and the ongoing support for residents facing the cost of living crisis. The committee's agenda also includes a review of the council's corporate performance and financial outturn for the past year.

Richmond Town Centre: Activating Our Vision

A significant portion of the meeting is dedicated to the Richmond Town Centre: Activating Our Vision report. This report outlines proposals for the next phase of projects and investment aimed at revitalising the town centre. The discussion is expected to cover public realm improvements, including enhancements to Whittaker Square and Avenue, the transformation of George Street, the development of a play space at Little Green, and the implementation of a new wayfinding strategy for the town centre and riverside. These initiatives are designed to create more inclusive and welcoming public spaces, improve connectivity, diversify the use of high street and riverside areas, better serve younger people, attract broader audiences, and strengthen Richmond's identity. The report also details the proposed allocation of £1.5 million for these priority projects.

Cost of Living Support Update and Proposals for the Crisis and Resilience Fund

The committee will also receive an update on the council's support for residents struggling with the high cost of living. This includes noting the final spend from the Household Support Fund and considering proposals for the allocation of the first year of the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF). The CRF, which replaces the Household Support Fund and Discretionary Housing Payments, aims to support low-income households experiencing financial shocks and invest in activities that build longer-term financial resilience. The proposed allocations for 2026/27 total £1,396,517 and are divided across four strands: Crisis Payments, Housing Payments, Resilience Services, and Community Coordination. The report also proposes a consultation to build flexibility into the Council Tax Reduction scheme and notes the intention to develop a borough-wide anti-poverty strategy.

Richmond Corporate Plan 2025/26 End-year Performance Report

The committee will be presented with an update on the progress of actions and performance against key performance indicators (KPIs) related to the council's corporate priorities for 2025/26, as outlined in the Richmond Corporate Plan (RCP). The report details progress on various RCP actions and provides end-year results for 21 relevant KPIs. It highlights areas of improvement, such as the lowest overall crime rate in London and increased positive outcomes for domestic abuse and sexual violence cases, alongside areas of underperformance, including customer satisfaction with telephone services and the number of resettled refugee families.

Revenue and Capital Outturn 2025/26

Members will be informed of the council's outturn figures for revenue and capital budget management for the 2025/26 financial year. The report indicates an overall revenue outturn position of a £2.661 million net overspend against a total approved budget of £174.488 million. This is largely attributed to increased demand in temporary accommodation for the homeless and placement costs for Children Looked After. The report also details the capital programme expenditure of £66.899 million for 2025/26 and provides an update on the council's reserves position.

Additional Budget Requests

The committee will be asked to approve funding for additional budget requests for 2026/27. These include £60,000 for the Highway Maintenance Programme, funded by Transport for London, and £784,500 for revenue carry-forwards to 2026/27, to be funded from General Fund balances and the Service Transformation Fund.

Committee Work Programme

Finally, the committee will consider its work programme, with future agenda items including updates on the Transformation Programme, an Accommodation BID proposal, a review of the Capital Programme, the Medium Term Financial Strategy, additional budget requests, and the Treasury Management Annual Report.