Colchester City Council’s performance for 2025/26 will be reviewed by its Cabinet on Monday 22 June, with a report outlining progress across key services alongside the challenges facing the Council.
The report shows that 12 of 19 key performance indicators were achieved during the year, with several exceeding their targets.
Core services continue to perform
The report highlights continued performance in services that matter most to residents.
Housing Benefit claims were processed in an average of 2.7 days, while rent collection remained above 99%. Council Tax collection also stayed above target, supporting the delivery of vital local services.
Performance in repairs remained consistent, with over 93% completed on time and customer satisfaction levels at around 92%. The average time taken to relet council homes reduced to under 43 days, helping residents access housing more quickly.
Housing delivery and demand
During the year, 128 affordable homes were completed, bringing the three-year total to 527 and exceeding planned targets.
However, demand for housing support continues to increase. A total of 362 households were supported to prevent or relieve homelessness, while demand for temporary accommodation remains high.
This ongoing pressure continues to impact Council resources and underlines the need for sustained focus on cost-effective solutions.
Investment in the city
Work has delivered key regeneration projects, including St Nicholas Square and the Digital Forum. Developments at Northern Gateway, including the opening of Vue Cinema, have strengthened the city’s leisure and visitor offer.
Targeted investment in public spaces, culture and heritage continues to support the city’s long-term attractiveness and economic resilience.
Community safety and inclusion
The report highlights reductions in reported antisocial behaviour and drug offences, supported by partnership work across the city.
Work has also continued to improve inclusion and accessibility through staff training and organisational initiatives, supporting a workforce is equipped to deliver for residents.
Managing financial pressures
Ongoing demand for temporary accommodation continues to impact the Council’s budget. However, targeted action, including the ‘Beyond the Box’ project that uses excess private student accommodation, has helped reduce this pressure by £1.9 million.
This reflects a strong focus on controlling costs, improving efficiency and ensuring support is delivered in a sustainable way.
Preparing for future change
The Council is continuing to prepare for Local Government Reorganisation, with programme planning and governance arrangements in place and close working across Essex authorities.
This work is focused on maintaining service stability while ensuring the Council is well positioned for future structural change.
Looking ahead
The report provides a baseline for the Council’s new Administration, which took office at the start of June 2026, as it reviews priorities and identifies opportunities to improve services and deliver better value for residents.
Cllr Alison Jay, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Transformation and Digital, said: “This report provides a clear and transparent view of how the Council is performing and where improvements are needed.
“While there are areas of solid delivery, the financial and demand pressures we face, particularly in housing, mean we must continue to focus on efficiency, value for money and strong financial management.
“Our priority is to ensure residents receive reliable, high-quality services that are delivered in a cost-effective and sustainable way.
“As a new Cabinet, we will be setting out our priorities in the coming months, with a clear focus on improving performance, controlling costs and delivering results for Colchester.”