As well as providing everyday services, the council will be investing £333 million over the next 3 years in long-term projects. These projects will include:
- delivering housing including the purchase of 188 homes to provide temporary accommodation to homeless households
- creating new school places, and maintaining and improving schools and children’s centres
- delivering a new care home providing a 40-bed residential nursing unit and a 40-bed enablement respite unit
- improving roads
- investing in cultural and leisure facilities
- enhance our town centres.
The money for these schemes comes from a number of sources, including borrowing, government grants and capital receipts from selling surplus assets.
The council spends £687 million a year providing services to Medway residents. The table below illustrates how spending is paid for, comparing figures to 2025 to 2026.
| 2025 to 2026 | 2026 to 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross revenue spending on council services | £648.001 million | £687.184 million |
| Less: gross income | £147.342 million | £163.432 million |
| Budget requirement | £500.659 million | £523.752 million |
| Less: government grant and business rates share | £330.143 million | £340.177 million |
| Council Tax requirement | £170.516 million | £183.575 million |
| Plus: Parish precepts | £741,000 | £856,000 |
| Council Tax requirement including parishes | £171.257 million | £184.431 million |
The council plans to spend £687 million to provide services to residents, the table below shows how this is spent, comparing figures with 2025 to 2026.
| Services | Budget 2025 to 2026 | Budget 2026 to 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Services for children | £218.650 million | £224.652 million |
| Housing (including benefit payments) | £89.954 million | £89.884 million |
| Adult social services | £162.819 million | £180.671 million |
| Services for the environment | £63.888 million | £66.975 million |
| Leisure and cultural services | £25.927 million | £27.041 million |
| Public health | £20.475 million | £25.232 million |
| Other council services | £66.287 million | £72.729 million |
| Total spending | £648.001 million | £687.184 million |
| Less: Income from charges, government grants, etc | £477.485 million | £503.609 million |
| Council Tax requirement | £170.516 million | £183.575 million |
How is my Council Tax worked out?
Each residential property is put into a valuation band. There are eight bands altogether according to the estimated market value, as at 1 April 1991.
The council divides the amount of money it needs to raise by the number of properties in Medway. This gives the amount each household pays. For example, in 2026 to 2027 people with a property in Band D will pay £1,934.33. (This is for council services only and doesn’t include the amount that is added on for police and fire services and charges by parishes). Charges for the remaining bands are a proportion of the Band D charge.
| Property value range | Band | Proportion of Band D chargeable |
|---|---|---|
| Up to £40,000 | A | 6/9 |
| £40,001 to £52,000 | B | 7/9 |
| £52,001 to £68,000 | C | 8/9 |
| £68,001 to £88,000 | D | 9/9 |
| £88,001 to £120,000 | E | 11/9 |
| £120,001 to £160,000 | F | 13/9 |
| £160,001 to £320,000 | G | 15/9 |
| £320,001 and above | H | 18/9 |