As we look ahead to the 2026–2027 financial year, we’re once again asking residents to play an active role in shaping the District Council’s budget. Every year brings new pressures, new opportunities, and new decisions about how we invest in the services that matter most to our residents, and your insight helps us make those decisions responsibly and transparently.

This year’s budget consultation is especially important. Like many councils across the country, we continue to face rising costs and increasing demand for essential services. That means we must carefully consider how every pound is spent. However, we do not want to make those choices in isolation. We want to hear from the people who use our services every day and use that to deliver a budget that is fair, sustainable and works.

As your district council, we receive just over 9% of the overall council tax bill and that contribution helps to deliver services including waste and recycling collection, leisure services, parking and public toilets, support for homeless people, planning and building control and many more. In fact, the District Council is responsible for providing over 50 services for our residents, and delivering a balanced budget is key to ensuring that these services continue to be of the highest possible standard.

The majority of your council tax is split between Gloucestershire County Council who provide services such as social care, education, road maintenance, the Police and Fire Service, as well as your local Town and Parish Councils. You can see the exact breakdown on your council tax bill.

A well‑planned council budget is the foundation that allows us to deliver those essential services that our residents rely on every day, whilst continuing to invest in ambitious projects that shape our future. Targets include tackling the climate emergency, supporting large scale regeneration projects such as the redevelopment of Five Acres in Berry Hill, and ensure our communities and businesses can thrive within the Forest of Dean. By setting clear priorities and allocating resources responsibly, the budget becomes more than a financial document; it becomes a roadmap for a thriving, resilient, forward‑looking community.

When you take part in the consultation your voice can genuinely have an impact upon the final budget. Over the past couple of years, resident feedback has directly shaped several priorities, and we want to build on that partnership again, hear from as many of you as possible and deliver a budget that works for the people and businesses of the Forest.

Please take a few minutes to get involved. Your perspective helps us protect services, plan for the future, and ensure our community continues to thrive.

The budget consultation ends January 16. 2026. Further information is available on the Forest of Dean District Council website: https://www.fdean.gov.uk/budget