As reported on 15 September 2026, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government confirmed £91 million for 14 councils in England that already receive Exceptional Financial Support, a mechanism for authorities under severe financial pressure. The money was to be spread across two financial years, with £41m across 2026-27 and £50m across 2027-2028, funding council-designed projects intended to modernise high-cost service areas such as temporary accommodation and adult social care.

Named authorities included Bradford (£12.7m), Stoke-on-Trent (£9.14m), Redbridge and Trafford (£7.5m each), Havering (£6.75m), Lambeth (£6.6m), Brighton and Hove (£6.4m), Sefton (£6.2m), Waltham Forest (£6.14m), Isle of Wight (£6m), West Berkshire (£5m), Redcar and Cleveland (£4.8m), Haringey (£4.79m) and Isles of Scilly (£1m). Examples cited were AI-based home devices in Redbridge and a redesigned social work model in Stoke-on-Trent.

Minister for Local Government, Devolution and Regional Growth Jim McMahon OBE attributed pressure on councils to a broken funding system and rising demand, describing the support as a step toward ending reliance on emergency funding.