Oldham Council 2026 budget: £12m children's care, £18m roads, 5% tax rise

Oldham Council has approved its 2026 budget with a 5% council tax increase to fund essential services across the borough. The £12 million investment in children's social care and £18 million for road repairs form the backbone of a spending plan that council leaders say will protect vulnerable residents while improving local infrastructure.

The budget includes several changes that will directly affect residents' pockets. A new £10 per item bulky waste collection fee replaces the previous system, though the service has been brought back in-house. The council has also created a Rapid Action Team specifically to tackle fly-tipping, with plans to recruit local apprentices for these roles.

Youth services across Oldham's districts will receive £100,000 in additional funding, while the landmark SportsTown project continues to progress. Council Leader Arooj Shah described the budget as 'first and foremost about protecting the people of Oldham,' particularly the most vulnerable residents who rely on council services daily.

For the second consecutive year, Oldham Council has balanced its budget without dipping into reserves, and council borrowing has decreased. Deputy Leader Abdul Jabbar said they now have 'a clear plan to rebuild those reserves' to make the borough more resilient for future challenges.