Council budget

The Shetland Islands Council’s 2025/26 budget will ensure that council-provided services across Shetland continue to deliver the best outcomes for Shetland in line with Council’s Corporate Plan “Our Ambitions 2021-26 and the Shetland Partnership Plan.

The Council delivers a wide range of services to the Shetland public and in 2025/26 we are to spend £261 million on these.

The Council manages a number of budgets:

  • General Fund - for general day to day operational purposes - £178m
  • Harbour Account - for the operation of various ports and harbours - £21m
  • Housing Revenue Accounts - for the council's social housing stock - £8m
  • Capital Account - for asset investment projects - £54m

The 2025/26 Budget Book

The 2024/25 Budget Book

Pension Fund

In addition we are the administering authority for the Shetland Islands Council Pension Fund. The Pension Fund has an operational budget for 2025/26 of £27m.

The Pension Fund website contains information regarding pensions.

Investments

The Finance Service manages investments for both the Council and the Pension Fund, where both portfolios are diversified to reduce risk and have separate investment strategies. Risk is managed by having multiple fund managers, investments in different asset classes and by spreading the investments across the world.

At 31 March 2024 the value of investments was:

  • Council Investments - £389m
  • Pension Fund Investments - £667m

Annual Investment & Treasury Strategy

Medium Term Financial Plan

The current Medium Term Financial Plan 2025 -30   was approved by Council on 6th October 2025.