£33m Investment Agreed for East Staffordshire in 2026/27 Budget

Plans for more than £33 million of investment across East Staffordshire - including projects in Burton - have been approved as part of the borough council’s 2026/27 budget.

 

At a meeting on Monday 16 February, East Staffordshire Borough Council agreed its spending plans for the next financial year, setting out funding for local services, regeneration projects and support schemes for residents.

 

The budget includes £4.19 million in new service investment for 2026/27, alongside a £33.7 million capital programme focused on longer-term projects across the borough.

 

 

What it means for Burton

 

Among the most noticeable changes for residents will be the introduction of a new food waste collection service, backed by £873,000 in funding. This will include investment in vehicles and equipment to roll out separate food waste collections.

 

Burton town centre is also set to benefit from £1.4 million to repair the roof of Burton Market Hall, as part of wider regeneration work.

Funding will continue for projects supported through the Local Regeneration Fund (formerly the Towns Fund), with £11.1 million of remaining funding expected to be used to deliver priorities including the new Washlands Visitor Centre.

 

There is also:

• £500,000 for maintenance of council buildings and assets

• £1.84 million for modernisation and decarbonisation works to council buildings

• £2.78 million for Disabled Facilities Grants

 

 

Support for residents

 

The budget sets aside £375,000 to support people needing temporary accommodation and £120,000 to respond to increased demand for supported exempt accommodation.

 

More than £3 million per year will continue to be targeted at wider cost of living support, including homelessness prevention, discretionary housing payments, and council tax support schemes. A further £200,000 has been allocated specifically to continue cost of living support measures for vulnerable residents.

 

£910,000 has also been included to develop a new Local Plan, which will guide future development and planning decisions across the borough.

 

Cllr Ali Chaudhry, Cabinet Member for Finance & Treasury Management, said:

“Following a number of years of uncertainty in terms of funding that will be available to the Council, this is a really positive budget that allows the Council to continue its support to our most vulnerable residents whilst at the same time invest in vital services and move forward the longer term regeneration priorities of the Borough.”

 

For Burton residents, the newly approved budget sets out how the council intends to fund day-to-day services while continuing with major projects across the town and wider borough over the coming year.

 

If you’d like to read the full 2026/27 budget document, including the detailed figures and project breakdowns, you can find it here.