Salisbury councillors to debate 2026/27 budget on January 5

The proposal is among those included in the Liberal Democrat administration's draft budget for 2026/27 and medium-term financial plan.

The council could also set aside £280,000 to renovate and reopen the market place public toilets and contribute £250,000 over five years to refurbishing the Playhouse.

A further £200,000 could be invested in refurbishing the central car park public loos in the medium term, if they are transferred by Wiltshire Council.

The administration's budget – and that of the opposition Conservative group – will be examined by the city council's finance committee on Monday, January 5.

Committee members will recommend one or both to full council a week later.

The Playhouse was built in 1976 (Image: Newsquest)

The Liberal Democrats are the largest party on Salisbury City Council with 11 members.

Labour are the second largest group with five councillors, followed by the Conservatives (four), independents (three) and Reform UK (one).

No service cuts or redundancies are proposed by the administration, but it has identified a series of new cost pressures.

They include the need to replace equipment at the crematorium (£525,000) and improve community amenities at St Peter's Place (£100,000).

The administration has proposed increasing council tax by 4.99 per cent for a Band D property in 2026/27 – which would see its bill rise by £19.07.

The Conservatives, meanwhile, have proposed raising council tax by 3.5 per cent for a property of the same size, totalling an extra £13.38.

Their plans would see the council's streetscene team lose two staff members in the short-term, and the communities department reduced in the medium-term.

The Tories would commit less to crematorium equipment and the Poultry Cross – £350,000 for each – but spend £20,000 more on refurbishing the market place toilets.

The public could have their say on the budget proposals via a consultation survey in October that was available online and in-person at the charter market.

Wiltshire Council's 2026/27 budget proposals are still being shaped.

What else do the budget documents reveal?

Both budget proposals would see an additional £50,000 made available to celebrate the 800th anniversary of Salisbury receiving its Royal Charter in 2027.

In October, the council outlined its plans to honour the occasion by hosting “six months of celebrations, involving the whole community, to celebrate our shared heritage and future”.

Administration budget documents outline the need for £525,000 of 'forward funding provision' towards the cost of replacing Crematorium equipment; (Image: Ash Mills)

Both documents also outline plans to bring another feature ride to the Charter Fair, held annually in October.

The finance committee meeting will start at 6.30pm on Monday, January 5.

Council meetings are open to all, and members of the public are encouraged to attend.