Barking and Dagenham Council has launched its annual budget consultation and is calling on residents to share their views on the services that matter most to them.
Councils across the country are under pressure from rising costs and growing demand for services, especially social care, stretching resources to the limit. Barking and Dagenham is no exception.
The borough’s population has grown by more than 31,500 in the past decade, and one in four residents is under 16. Combined with inflation and the cost of living, this has driven up demand for essential services such as adult and children’s care, which accounts for around £7 of every £10 the council spends.
Councillor Dominic Twomey, Leader of the Council, said, “We’re working hard to make Barking and Dagenham better - improving services and supporting our community, but the financial reality is tough.
“A decade ago, we had far more resources - for every pound we had then, we now have just 66p. And with only a small share of our funding coming from Council Tax (18%), we rely heavily on government support. Rising costs and growing demand mean we have to work harder than ever to keep services going.
“Despite these pressures, our focus is clear: protecting the essential services people rely on and supporting those who need us most. And we’re not standing still - we’re adapting, innovating, and making sure every decision puts residents first.
“We’re continuing to punch above our weight, bringing more investment to B&D like we did to deliver the Film Studios. We’ve secured valuable partnerships which are providing millions of pounds of investment, including National Lottery Heritage Funding and a dentistry school in Barking, in partnership with Queen Mary University London, which will open next year and provide free care for 5,000 local people.
“And through hard work and innovation, I’m really proud that we’ve achieved an outstanding Quality Care Commission rating for the adult social care we provide to residents. It shows that excellence is possible even in the most challenging circumstances.”
Since 2010, the council has saved around £200m and continues to run an efficient, low-cost council.
Councillor Twomey added, “We’re committed to making every pound count. That means smarter ways of working, using technology to improve services, and getting the best value from everything we do. We’re already a lean council, but we’re going further - streamlining processes, finding efficiencies, and working closely with partners to jointly tackle the root causes of hardship.
“The truth is, some difficult choices lie ahead. But we’ll explore every option and make decisions based on what matters most to our community. That’s why your views are so important - they help us protect the services you value and shape the future of our borough.”
Earlier this year, the council launched a new Anti-Poverty Strategy, which includes helping new parents with essential costs and supporting young people leaving care.
It also provides vital help through the Household Support Fund – from tackling food poverty to funding youth programmes and emergency essentials. In recent years, the council has helped over 10,000 residents into work and supported 17,000 more with training and new skills.
Council Tax
To help ease budget pressures, the council is proposing a 4.99% Council Tax increase for 2026/27 – a 2.99% general increase plus 2% ringfenced for Adult Social Care. For an average Band D property, this means around £1.54 extra per week (excluding the GLA element).
Councillor Twomey said: “We know any increase is hard and it’s never something we take lightly. But without it, we can’t keep essential services running - like street cleaning, waste collection, libraries, and care for the most vulnerable.
“At the same time, we’re pushing hard for a fairer funding deal for Barking and Dagenham. We hope the local government financial settlement delivers the fairness and support to councils like ours because our residents deserve nothing less. While we work to secure that, we’re making every penny count to protect the essential services you value most.”
Have your say
Residents can take part in the online survey until Friday 9 January 2026. The council wants to hear which services matter most to residents so it can prioritise accordingly. Residents can take part in the consultation here.
A special Facebook Live Q&A with Councillor Twomey, Leader of the Council and Councillor Worby, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health Integration, will take place on Wednesday 17 December from 6 – 7pm on the Leader’s Facebook page.
Questions can be submitted in advance by emailing socialmedia@lbbd.gov.uk.