Slough Borough Council has revealed an additional £11.2 million of pressures on its finances for 2027/28, increasing the projected shortfall for that year to around £33 million. Council leaders stress the authority is still working towards removing its reliance on Government Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) by 2028/29, but concede the task has become more difficult.
Where the extra pressure is coming from
Cabinet papers presented to councillors this week identify the main drivers of the new cost pressures as spending on temporary accommodation and children’s services, alongside continuing exposure to inflation and higher borrowing costs. The council had previously expected a budget gap of £22.4m for 2027/28; the new figures raise that to roughly £33m.
- Additional pressures identified: £11.2m
- Previously projected gap for 2027/28: £22.4m
- Revised projected gap for 2027/28: £33m
“The route to this has become harder,”
Those were the words used by the lead member for corporate resources, Councillor Ejaz Ahmed (Con, Slough Central), as he outlined the implications. The council leader, Councillor Wal Chahal (Con, Langley Marish), urged cabinet colleagues to seek savings but warned this must not be at the expense of local residents.
Plan to reduce reliance on Government support
In March the council approved a budget and medium-term financial plan which set a timetable for cutting reliance on EFS. At that point the expectation was to reduce EFS from £42.9m this year to £22.4m in 2027/28 and to reach zero by 2028/29. Officers say the council remains committed to that target, and the interim chief operating officer, Ian O’Donnell, described the current financial refresh as providing clearer intelligence for decision-making.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Current year EFS | £42.9m |
| Projected EFS 2027/28 (March plan) | £22.4m |
| Additional pressures identified | £11.2m |
| Revised budget gap 2027/28 | £33m |
Implications for services and residents
Cllr Ahmed said the council will need to find further savings to close the growing gap. The papers name corporate pressures beyond service demand, including inflationary increases and the cost of borrowing, as factors that will require closer management. Council leaders emphasised that measures must balance financial sustainability with protecting vulnerable residents and maintaining essential services.
Officers and members now face a sequence of decisions over the coming months to identify where savings can be delivered and how to manage demand in high-cost areas such as temporary accommodation and children’s services. The council’s stated objective remains to rebuild reserves and to place the authority on a more sustainable financial footing ahead of the 2028/29 deadline for leaving EFS.
Members will return to the detail of the financial refresh in further meetings as work continues to translate the updated figures into a revised medium-term plan.
