This year’s Autumn Statement comes at a time when councils across the country, including Royal Greenwich, continue to face significant financial pressures.
Driven by rising demand for services, inflation and the homelessness and cost of living crises, we’re having to do more with less. Despite these challenges, we’ve continued to manage our finances responsibly, while investing in areas that matter to our residents.
What today’s Autumn Statement means for Greenwich
The Government has confirmed that it will contribute to the Greater London Authority and Transport for London’s plans to deliver a DLR extension to Thamesmead; this is something we have consistently lobbied for over several years, and this commitment is a huge win for our residents. This extension has the power to transform Thamesmead, unlocking thousands of affordable homes, attracting new businesses, and delivering community infrastructure that will benefit the whole area.
The Government’s plans to lift the cap on benefits for families with more than two children will put more money into the pockets of those who need it most. This has the potential to raise household income and reduce child poverty, which in turn will ease the pressure on local councils by preventing families from reaching breaking point.
The Budget echoes our own ambitions to develop more resilient communities where children and young people can reach their full potential, and residents who are struggling have access to the right support to improve their situation. We welcome national measures that align with the work we’re already doing across our borough to protect front line services, repair roads, reduce inequality, support growth, regeneration and development and invest in long-term stability.
We’re closely reviewing today’s announcement and what this means for us as a borough. While we won’t know our final settlement until February 2026, this does give us a chance to understand trajectory.
In the meantime, we’re inviting our communities to help shape our Budget for 2026-2027 by taking part in our public consultation which is open until Monday 22 December. Printed copies will be available in your local library within the week.
How we’re already delivering for our residents
The Autumn Statement sets the national direction, while we continue to drive forward our own ambitious plans to Get Things Done using a one-off pot of £60 million to deliver real results over the next five years.
Key projects in this include £4.4 million to tackle antisocial behaviour, £8 million for street resurfacing and pothole repairs, and £5 million to reduce fly tipping. We are also proposing to invest in a new community centre, plus town centre improvements in Woolwich, Eltham and Greenwich, as well as expanding our provision for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
This is just the tip of the iceberg on how we continue to deliver for our residents. Homeless families in hotel rooms have been reduced to zero, which saves taxpayers £5.8 million each year. We’re keeping older residents more independent at home using smart technology, and funding community projects with grants of up to £35,000.
We remain committed to getting things done for our borough during times of financial uncertainty. We may need to make some tough decisions to ensure we remains financially stable and able to protect the services residents depend on.
You can shape how this looks through our consultation, have your say now.