Sefton Council will set its Budget tonight (Thursday 26th February 2026) as it faces a £29 million overspend, driven largely by increased need, demand and cost in Children’s Social Care, Adult Social Care and Education Travel Support costs.
Councillors will face some difficult decisions when they agree their Budget for 2026/27 and Medium-Term Financial Strategy from 2027/28 to 2029/30.
One of their solutions will be to look to raise £12 million through selling a series of council-owned assets.
They have made a special plea to the Government to be allowed to do this, which has been agreed.
Sefton is one of 37 local authorities in the UK to be granted exceptional financial support which does not include extra funding from central government.
Instead, it gives the council permission to factor in proposed asset sales into its budget – something which would not ordinarily be allowed.
On Monday (23th February 2026), the Government agreed to requests from Sefton and dozens of other councils and, while announcing this, Local Government Minister Alison McGovern attacked the austerity-era funding cuts which devastated local councils and led to tax rises and cut services.
Announcing the agreements with the 37 councils, Alison McGovern said: “We have been clear we will continue to support councils in the most difficult positions and I have today agreed in principle Exceptional Financial Support for councils where I have been assured that there is a need in 2026-27 or in relation to previous years. In some cases, these agreements reflect a reprofiling of existing support.
“Under the previous government, increasing numbers of councils seeking Exceptional Financial Support became an accepted part of the finance system. This should clearly not be the case, and I am determined that we begin to break this cycle as part of our reforms to the system – but we cannot undo 14 years of damage overnight.”
Among the others to receive support, Warrington and Trafford have been allowed to raise council tax by 7.5%, well above the rate normally allowed without a referendum. In addition, Warrington has also been granted £92m of exceptional financial support following on from £87.5m in 2025/26.
Among the properties which are due to be sold this year are lodges at the cemeteries in Southport and Ainsdale as well as the former public toilets on Lord Street West.
Cabinet Members have also been asked to grant approval to declare the land and properties below as surplus to operational requirements:
Asset 258 – Back Stanley Road Car Park, Back Stanley Road, Bootle, L20 4NA (Derby Ward) Asset 579 – Land at the rear of 126-146 Sandy Road, Seaforth (Plot 7), L21 1AG (Church Ward) Asset 834 – Former Public Conveniences, Lord Street West, Southport, PR8 1RX (Dukes Ward) Asset 2301 – Land at Goldsmith Street/Bibby’s Lane, Bootle, L20 (Linacre Ward)
Asset 2277 – Land at Bulwer Street, Bootle, L20 (Known as Martin’s Garden) (Linacre Ward) Asset 712 – 173a Fernhill Road, Bootle, L20 9DU (Derby Ward)
Asset 2390 – Larchfield Road, Thornton, L23 9UX (Manor Ward)
It is intended to sell these properties by auction, to achieve certainty of completion and the capital receipt in 2026/27.
In addition, the following property is a tenanted agricultural holding, which it is intended to sell directly to the current tenant.
Asset 111 – Hunts Brook Farm, Lunt Road, L29 3EA (Manor Ward)
A report to councillors at tonight’s Sefton Council Budget meeting says: “Local government finances in England currently face significant challenges due to sustained budgetary pressures and ongoing economic constraints.
“Despite real terms increases in funding since 2019/20, English local government funding per resident remains on average 19% below 2010 levels and councils are increasingly facing significant financial pressure.
“Many local authorities are struggling to maintain essential services while managing increasing cost and demand, particularly in adult and children’s social care and education, which have risen substantially and far beyond annual funding increases.
“Since 2010, one of the strengths of Sefton’s financial management has been to understand that financial environment and then make the tough decisions that are required to support delivery of the 2030 vision, Core Purpose / Corporate Plan including council tax increases. In this environment that approach will need to continue. This will be the case for 2026/27. The current year has seen a forecast year-end overspend of £29m being reported (before mitigations), driven primarily by increased need, demand and cost in Children’s Social Care, Adult Social Care and Education Excellence via Education Travel Support costs.
“This has an ongoing impact on the 2026/27 budget which is clearly a significant issue that makes budget setting, and then the delivery of that budget, much more difficult.”
A series of price increases will be made across various council services, generally in line with inflation.
Among changes will be small increases to car parking costs.
In Southport town centre, the cheapest fare for on-street parking will now be £1.
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