Welcome to Budget the Borough! Manage Havering’s 2025/26 revenue budget of £208.8M, tackling real issues like social care pressures, homelessness, and street cleanliness. Over 12 turns, make tough choices to balance services and finances while aiming for a high score. Can you lead Havering to success?
You’re in charge of Havering’s £208.8M budget for 2025/26, starting with a £53.2M deficit. Over 12 months, you’ll face scenarios affecting services like social care and waste management. Each turn, choose an option:
- Invest for a good outcome (+12 points, high cost).
- Act lightly for a neutral outcome (+6 points, moderate cost).
- Do nothing for a bad outcome (-8 points, no cost).
You start with 100 points. If funds run low, borrow—but it’ll cost you: -2.5 points per £10M (up to £50M), -5 points per £10M (£51-100M), -7.5 points per £10M (over £100M). Borrowing also reduces public satisfaction: -1% per £5M (up to £50M), -1.5% per £5M (£51-100M), -2% per £5M (over £100M). Your final score (0–160) reflects your leadership:
- 100–160: Excellent
- 75–99: Good
- 50–74: Fair
- Below 50: Poor
Havering’s Financial Challenge
As a Havering councillor, you oversee a £208.8M revenue budget for 2025/26, funding services for over 260,000 residents. Over the past decade, government funding has dropped from £280M in 2016/17 to £208.8M today—a £71.2M decline—due to an outdated funding formula failing to adjust for inflation and rising costs. Meanwhile, social care demand has surged by 28% since 2016/17, driven by an aging population and complex needs. With £262M allocated, you face a £53.2M deficit.
Over 12 months, your decisions will shape Havering’s future. Can you balance the budget while meeting rising demands?
Budget the Borough
Month:April 2025 - 1/12
Revenue Balance:0
Revenue Budgets [?]Revenue Budget: Funds daily operations including statutory services (Adult Social Care, Children’s Services, Environment and Waste, Housing Services, Highways and Transport) and discretionary services (Culture and Leisure, Corporate Services). Capital Budget: Funds long-term projects like infrastructure (not included in this game).