In the December 2025 cabinet meeting for the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, the cabinet reviewed the revenue budget, approved the capital programme monitor and budget variations, and reviewed the treasury management strategy. Councillor Rowan Ree, Cabinet Member for Finance and Reform, presented the financial reports, and the cabinet members discussed garden waste collection, parking revenue, and temporary accommodation pressures. The cabinet unanimously approved the recommendations in the reports.

Revenue Budget Review

The cabinet reviewed the Revenue Budget for 2025/26, Month 6 (September 2025), and approved the recommendations within the Revenue Budget Review 2025-26 - Month 6 September 2025 report. The report highlighted a forecast overspend of £2.160m in the General Fund, but also noted that the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) was in a healthier position than the previous year. Councillor Adronie Alford, Conservative Spokesperson for Housing, raised questions about specific areas of the budget, including garden waste, parking income, and temporary accommodation.

Garden Waste

Councillor Alford questioned why garden waste income was lower than expected, suggesting the high price of £95 per year may be deterring residents from subscribing. Councillor Stephen Cowan, Leader of the Council, explained the history of garden waste services in the borough, noting that previous approaches with giant skips had been ended due to abuse by private builders. He said the new service aimed to compete with the private sector while aligning with the council's environmental policy to reduce refuse going to landfill, particularly given the high costs charged by the Western Riverside Waste Authority¹. He said that the council was planning a marketing push to increase take-up of the service.

Parking Income

Councillor Alford asked why parking income was lower than expected. Councillor Cowan said that the council had been actively trying to discourage traffic from cutting through the borough to improve air quality and protect residents' health, and that the success of active travel schemes, with more people walking and cycling, and fewer young people driving, had also contributed. Councillor Alford raised concerns that traffic schemes were deterring people from shopping and impacting the viability of local shops. Councillor Cowan responded that the council was not trying to stop people who needed cars from driving, but rather encourage people who were able to walk and cycle. He also noted that areas with the most traffic restrictions, such as the South Fulham Clean Air Neighbourhood, had seen an increase in shops, with new cafes and shops opening on Wandsworth Bridge Road since it had become more pedestrian-friendly. He also highlighted the success of the traffic-free North End Road market.

Temporary Accommodation

Councillor Alford raised concerns about the strain of temporary accommodation on the HRA budget and asked if the council had a plan to address it. Councillor Cowan acknowledged the issue was a significant problem for local authorities across the UK. He praised Councillor Ree and Councillor Frances Umeh, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, for recognising the problem early and taking measures to address it, including building 17,000 new properties in the borough, with over 35% being affordable homes. He said the scale of demand was a genuine problem and the council was in discussions with the government about the issue. Councillor Ree added that the newly created Housing Company, agreed at the previous cabinet meeting, was partly intended to address this issue and provide additional temporary accommodation.

Capital Programme Monitor and Budget Variations

The cabinet approved the Capital Programme Monitor and Budget Variations 2025/26 (Second Quarter) as detailed in the Capital Programme Monitor and Budget Variations 2025-26 Second Quarter report. Councillor Ree highlighted key areas of spending, including economic regeneration projects, affordable and greener homes, and expansion of CCTV infrastructure. The approved recommendations were:

• To note the overall forecast of £270.9m for 2025/26 capital expenditure, a net decrease of £9.8m compared to the revised budget at Q1 2025/26.
• To approve a total additional investment of £34.5m (of which £33m is from Section 106² funding) across the revised four-year programme, including new additional borrowing.
• To approve the updated four-year capital programme for 2025-2029 of £714.325m, a net increase of £34.5m compared to the forecast four-year programme at Q1 2025/26 (£679.9m).

Treasury Management Strategy

The cabinet reviewed the Treasury Management Strategy: Mid-Year Review 2025/26, as detailed in the Treasury Management Strategy Mid-Year Review 2025-26 report. The cabinet noted:

• The Treasury Management Strategy 2025/26 mid-year review.
• The forecast capital financing requirement (CFR) for the General Fund and the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).
• The current split between external and internal borrowing.

Key Decisions List

The cabinet noted the Key Decisions List - December 2025.