The Cabinet meeting on 14 January 2026 saw a number of key decisions made regarding the council's finances, housing, and community services. Notably, the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget for 2026/27 was approved, including a rent increase for social housing tenants. The council also agreed to consult on a borough-wide Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to address issues related to the irresponsible consumption of alcohol.

Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget and Rent Review 2026/27

The Cabinet approved the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget for 2026/27, which includes a one-off drawdown of up to £5 million from HRA reserves to ensure a balanced budget. A significant decision was the agreement to increase social housing rents by 4.8% (CPI + 1%) from April 2026. This increase is subject to further potential rises for rent convergence if permitted by the Secretary of State or Regulator, with a maximum additional increase of £2 per week for rents not already at 'formula' rent.

Rents for temporary accommodation (excluding hostels) will be increased to the current Local Housing Allowance rate from April 2026. Revised tenant service charges for services such as Caretaking, CCTV, Communal Lighting, Communal Mechanical and Electrical Maintenance, Grounds Maintenance, and Responsive Housing Patrol were also agreed. Hostels and supported housing will see a 4.8% increase in service charges, with a 6.9% increase for concierge services and a 3% increase for enhanced management charges for sheltered housing. Heating and hot water charges will remain frozen at 2025/26 levels.

Shared ownership rents will increase by RPI + 0.5% (5.0%). Resident garage rents will rise from £18/week to £20/week, and commercial garage rents will increase by 11%. Other fees and charges, including those for private garages, estate parking, sheds, cupboards, allotments, keys and fobs, and leaseholder fees, will see a 3% increase. The District Management Committees provided their views on these proposals, with varying levels of agreement across different areas of the borough. For example, while Gospel Oak and Kentish Town generally supported the proposed rent increases, Camden Town and Holborn did not agree with the full proposed rent convergence.

Proposal for a Borough-wide Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to Promote Responsible Consumption of Alcohol

The Cabinet agreed to consult on a draft Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) aimed at addressing anti-social behaviour and crime linked to the irresponsible use of alcohol in public places. The proposed order would give authorised officers the power to request individuals to stop drinking alcohol or surrender any alcohol they are carrying. This measure is intended to tackle key concerns raised by communities regarding alcohol-related anti-social behaviour across all wards in the borough.

Award of Grant for Delivery of the Camden Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme 2026-2029

The Cabinet approved the continuation of the Camden Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme, awarding a three-year grant to the Young Camden Foundation (YCF) to act as the programme's coordination and quality assurance partner. The Department for Education has confirmed funding for three years from April 2026, though provisional allocations indicate a reduction in funding levels from the 2025/26 amount. Authority has been delegated to the Director of Health and Wellbeing to release the grant annually to YCF, subject to performance.

Report of Camden's 2025 Corporate Peer Challenge

The Cabinet noted the report from Camden's 2025 Corporate Peer Challenge, an assessment facilitated by the Local Government Association to help councils improve their ways of working. The report outlines key findings and recommendations from the peer team, which included senior officers from other local authorities. A further report will be presented to the Cabinet within six months detailing Camden Council's specific response to these recommendations.

Approval of Resource Base for Council Tax and Business Rates

The Cabinet recommended to full Council the approval of the resource base for Council Tax and Business Rates for 2026-2027. This includes the calculation of the Council Tax Base for 2026/2027, which is set at 97,486 for 2025/2026. The tax base for Gordon Square, Fitzroy Square, and Mecklenburg Square were also detailed.

The report also confirmed the continuation of several Council Tax premiums and discounts for 2026/27. These include a 100% Long-Term Empty Homes Premium for properties empty for one year or more, a 200% premium for properties empty for five years or more, and a 300% premium for properties empty for ten years or more. A 100% Second Home Premium will also be chargeable. Empty and unfurnished properties will continue to receive a 100% discount for the first month, followed by the standard council tax charge for the next eleven months before the Long-Term Empty Homes Premium applies. A 25% discount for homes that are uninhabitable or undergoing major works will also remain applicable. The approach and assumptions for calculating the Council's business rates yield for 2026/2027, estimated at approximately £760 million, were also approved.

Procurement Strategy for Care and Support at Home

The Cabinet approved the procurement strategy for the provision of care and support at home services. This strategy includes a price/quality split of 40:60 and a contract term of 84 months, with break clauses at the end of year three and year five. The estimated aggregate value of the contracts, including extensions, is £217.2 million for homecare and £16.8 million for reablement. Authority has been delegated to the Executive Director Adults and Health to make modifications to the procurement procedure and to make the contract award decision, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care. Waivers were also agreed to extend current contracts for up to four months to ensure a safe transition to new contracts, at a total cost of £6,718,325. This approach aims to strengthen care and support at home by shifting towards more enabling, relationship-based care and investing in care worker development, aligning with the Council's commitment to the Ethical Care Charter and payment of the London Living Wage.