Enfield Council's services are £11.2m over budget halfway through 2026/27. It plans to balance the books with £12m from property sales. Cabinet meets 4 Nov.
Enfield Council’s services are forecast to overspend by £11.2 million this year. The figure comes from the council’s half-year budget report, which the Cabinet considers on Wednesday 4 November.
The council expects to end the year balanced. It will do that partly with £12 million raised from selling property, and partly with money left over in central budgets. (Enfield Council, 2026/27 Quarter 2 Revenue and Capital Monitoring Report)
Where the money is going
The report names five areas driving the pressure. Adult social care, special educational needs (SEN) transport and homelessness are continuing problems. Fleet services and property costs are new this year.
The report says demand, contract inflation and wages have all grown faster than expected when the budget was set in February.
By department, after planned savings and other actions:
| Department | Budget | Forecast overspend |
|---|---|---|
| People (includes adult social care) | £227.9m | £3.5m |
| Housing | £30.5m | £3.9m |
| Environment and Communities | £49.8m | £3.7m |
| Chief Executive’s | £32.3m | £0.2m |
| Resources | £16.8m | £0.2m under |
The net budget for the year is £429 million.
How the gap is closed
Central “corporate” budgets are forecast to come in £10.6 million under. That brings the overall position down to a £0.5 million overspend.
The rest is covered by what councils call the flexible use of capital receipts. This lets a council spend money from selling land and buildings on projects meant to cut future costs, instead of on new buildings or debt.
Enfield planned to use £9.4 million this way in 2026/27. The report now forecasts £12 million. The updated plan, which full council is asked to approve on 11 November, totals £14 million. It includes a new £1.4 million “to facilitate strategic land disposal”.
That depends on the land being sold. The report assumes the full £50 million of sales this year. Only £0.3 million had come in by the end of September. The report says work has begun to find capital spending that could be cut or delayed in case the sales fall short.
Risks still to come
The report flags these risks:
- adult social care: a further possible £1.8 million, not in the forecast
- homelessness: a £2 million risk flagged earlier “has now materialised” and is in the forecast; the report blames problems with a scheme to lease homes long term for temporary accommodation
- schools’ special needs budget: the Dedicated Schools Grant is forecast to overspend by £15.3 million, taking the deficit to £36.1 million
On the last point there is better news. The government has approved the council’s SEND reform plan, with an indicative £18.7 million grant towards the deficit. That would cut it to £17.4 million if confirmed. The report says the money is due on 30 November.
Reserves and building projects
Risk reserves, the council’s cushion against shocks, are forecast at £50.5 million. Full council set a minimum of £42.9 million for this year. The report warns that if pressures grow, reserves could fall below that minimum.
The capital programme, for buildings and infrastructure, is forecast to spend £326.5 million against a budget of £493.1 million. That includes £48.8 million on long leases for temporary accommodation.
The council has also bid for two grants:
- £7 million from the Department for Transport for works to the Lea Valley bridge
- £4.1 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for the Unlocking Broomfield project
What it means for you
A balanced forecast means no emergency cuts are proposed in this report. But the overspends are in services many residents rely on: care for older and disabled people, school transport for children with special needs, and housing for homeless families.
The council sets next year’s budget and council tax in February. Pressures that carry on into next year will shape that. See our Enfield council tax bands page for this year’s charges.
The Cabinet meets at 7pm on Wednesday 4 November at the Civic Centre. The agenda and papers are online.
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