Council ends financial year with £800k underspend

A council ended the last financial year with an £804,000 underspend on its budget, it has been revealed.

Cannock Chase District Council in Staffordshire confirmed there had been a "favourable variance" in its 2025/26 finances, during a meeting on Thursday.

The authority said it was a result of a "technical adjustment" in costs relating to levelling up projects in the area.

Investment income had also increased by £154,000, according to a council report, with overall income levels £1.136m higher than expected.

It said income from the business rate retention scheme was £61,000 lower than anticipated, while there was a £26,000 reduction in the money made from parking.

The working balance at the end of March was £2.878m, the report added, and, as council policy was to retain a working balance of £1m, this meant £1.878m was available to support future budgets.

The news of the council's financial position came as up to £799,000 was set to be earmarked for the resurfacing of the Beecroft Road car park in Cannock.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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