As well as providing everyday services, the council will be investing £329 million over the next 3 years in long-term projects. These projects will include:
- delivering housing including the purchase of 150 homes to provide temporary accommodation to homeless households
- creating new school places, and maintaining and improving schools and children’s centres
- improving roads
- investing in cultural and leisure facilities
- enhancing our town centres including delivering a new Healthy Living Centre in Chatham.
The money for these schemes comes from a number of sources, including borrowing, government grants and selling surplus assets.
The council spends £622 million a year providing services to Medway residents. The table below illustrates how spending is paid for, comparing figures to 2024 to 2025.
| 2024 to 2025 | 2025 to 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross revenue spending on council services | £578.366 million | £621.823 million |
| Less: gross income | £139.797 million | £125.382 million |
| Budget requirement | £438.569 million | £496.441 million |
| Less: government grant and business rates share | £280.107 million | £325.925 million |
| Council Tax requirement | £158.462 million | £170.516 million |
| Plus: Parish precepts | £691,000 | £741,000 |
| Council Tax requirement including parishes | £159.153 million | £171.257 million |
Changes in cost of services
The council plans to spend £622 million to provide services to residents, the table below shows how this is spent, comparing figures with 2024 to 2025.
| Services | Budget 2024 to 2025 | Budget 2025 to 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Services for children | £190.146 million | £201.096 million |
| Housing (including benefit payments) | £85.857 million | £88.750 million |
| Adult social services | £142.269 million | £154.682 million |
| Services for the environment | £59.264 million | £64.688 million |
| Leisure and cultural services | £21.199 million | £25.689 million |
| Public health | £19.037 million | £21.599 million |
| Other council services | £60.593 million | £65.318 million |
| Total spending | £578.366 million | £621.823 million |
| Less: Income from charges, government grants, etc | £419.904 million | £451.307 million |
| Council Tax requirement | £158.462 million | £170.516 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 2025 to 2026 people with a property in Band D will pay £1,842.32. (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 B | 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 |