Gloucester City Council leader Jeremy Hilton has refused to resign following the disclosure of a £1.125 million overspend in the 2025/26 budget. The Liberal Democrat leader faced calls from Labour group leader Terry Pullen to step down, but hit back, saying the opposition should thank his administration for steadying the ship.
Council overspend and bailout
The council, which has been offered an emergency government bailout of up to £15.5 million, reported the overspend for the third quarter of the last financial year, covering October, November, and December 2025. The most recent financial outturn report revealed the £1.125m deficit.
Labour leader Terry Pullen demanded accountability for the overspend, stating, "There is a litany of financial failures at this council. Granted, initially they were not all your responsibility but we asked you to sort it out and you haven't."
Hilton defends record
Cllr Hilton explained that the accounts had been readjusted because they were originally based on best estimates rather than precise figures. "During that period of time, what we did was only went through the higher level projects and budget headings," he said. "What they've done is then gone through the whole lot and identified the budget precisely and accurately. For the first time since 2021 they have gone in on time. These figures are the most accurate that we've ever had in the last five or six years. We've been just clearing up the mess."
He added that no specific decisions by his administration contributed to the overspend and said, "You should thank us for doing such a good job."
Labour calls for resignation
Cllr Pullen rejected Hilton's defence, arguing that the 2025/26 budget had been set by the Liberal Democrats, making them accountable. "You can't blame anyone else for a budget that you have set," he said. "You have failed in your responsibilities. And the people of Gloucester, the council tax payers, have had enough."
He claimed residents had lost patience and trust in Hilton, calling on him to resign. "Any decent and honourable politician and leader of the council would do the right thing and resign."
Hilton blames previous administration
Cllr Hilton said he was still awaiting an apology from the Conservatives for the "absolute financial mess" they left the council in, noting that three sets of accounts had gone unaudited. "We have been digging around and have been getting the figures right," he said. He added that "robust" budget monitoring had been introduced.
"We are getting on and sorting out that job," Hilton said.
Political clash continues
Cllr Pullen responded, "So that's a no then Cllr Hilton, you will carry on in your incompetent way. There are no excuses left. We just roll on and roll and the people of Gloucester have to put up with your incompetence."
Hilton hit back, accusing Pullen of making inaccurate comments in the public domain. "When we talk about incompetence, I often think of the incompetence of your reading of the financial accounts and the final quarter accounts which you had," Hilton said.
