Richmond Council is asking residents across the borough, Barnes and Mortlake included, to back a formal submission to central government about its funding. The council says government funding for its services will be reduced by almost 60 per cent by 2028/29 — equivalent to about £29 million a year — with the reductions phased in over three years. It wants to use the Sustainable Communities Act, which lets a local authority ask the government to remove barriers to improving local wellbeing, but only if it has consulted residents and they are supportive. The online survey asks whether you support the proposal and which areas it should prioritise. It closes on 14 October.
The survey is, in effect, the council collecting permission slips for its own lobbying, and it needs numbers. Whether the government listens is another matter; what Barnes residents can influence now is which services the council names first.
- Richmond Council has opened a consultation asking residents whether they support it submitting a Sustainable Communities Act proposal, and which areas it should prioritise.
- Government funding for council services will be reduced by almost 60% by 2028/29, equivalent to an annual reduction of £29 million.
- The reductions are being phased in over three years.
- The Act lets councils ask central government to remove barriers to local wellbeing, but only after consulting residents and finding them supportive.
- The online survey opened on 16 September and closes on 14 October 2026.
Every factual claim in this story is linked to the evidence behind it. Where the newsroom has added judgement or framing, it is listed separately. Sources accessed 29 September 2026.
- haveyoursay.citizenspace.com/richmondce/scac-26/ (primary source - council consultation)
Claim by claim (5 facts, 2 editorial judgements)
- Richmond Council has opened a consultation asking residents whether they support it submitting a Sustainable Communities Act proposal, and which areas it should prioritise. — primary source - council consultation, 2026-09-16“This questionnaire asks if you support the Council submitting a proposal and asks for your views on the areas we should prioritise in our proposal.”
- Government funding for council services will be reduced by almost 60% by 2028/29, equivalent to an annual reduction of £29 million. — primary source - council consultation, 2026-09-16“Government funding for Council services will be reduced by almost 60% by 2028/29, equivalent to an annual reduction of £29 million.”
- The reductions are being phased in over three years. — primary source - council consultation, 2026-09-16“with the reductions being phased in over just three years”
- The Act lets councils ask central government to remove barriers to local wellbeing, but only after consulting residents and finding them supportive. — primary source - council consultation, 2026-09-16“local authorities can only submit a proposal if it has consulted residents and residents are supportive”
- The online survey opened on 16 September and closes on 14 October 2026. — primary source - council consultation, 2026-09-16“Closes 14 Oct 2026 Opened 16 Sep 2026”
- Judgement: The survey is in effect the council collecting permission slips for its own lobbying, and it needs numbers.
- Judgement: What residents can influence now is which services the council names first in its proposal.