The CCN (County Councils Network) has reported that three quarters of local councils in England are planning an increase to council tax from April 2023.
In general an increase in council tax is expected of 4.99% which is the maximum allowed without a local vote. A total of 30 local councils confirmed a council tax increase but chose a rate of below 4.99% with the minimum being 2%.
The most common council tax band is D with an average annual bill of £1966 meaning an increase of £100 to your annual council tax cost.
At the time of writing 114 councils out of 152 released their budget proposals with only one council confirming they will not bring in a council tax rise.
Why is Council Tax being increased?
Local authorities have the very difficult job of trying to provide the services they need to within a financial budget that is being tested from events outside their control.
Councils are facing huge pressure mainly due to the effects of inflation coupled with a greater demand for services all at the same time.
Cllr Sam Corcoran, Labour Vice-Chairman of the County Councils Network and Leader of Cheshire East Council, said:
“With inflation reaching levels not seen for over 40 years and with demand-led pressures for care services showing no sign of abating, local authority leaders are setting their budgets in the most difficult circumstances in decades.”
The council tax rises are in addition to the funding committed by the government in its October 2022 statement. The extra £60bn (an average rise of 9.4%) committed by the government unfortunately isn’t enough to keep local council service levels at an acceptable standard.
In most cases the extra council tax revenue will only be used to maintain what currently exists with no surplus for improvements or for new local services.
Without the extra tax revenue cuts would be necessary to vital facilities, amenities and jobs bringing with it negative effects throughout local communities.
Cllr Sam Corcoran, Labour Vice-Chairman of the County Councils Network and Leader of Cheshire East Council, said:
“With councils facing multi-million funding deficits next year, the alternative to council tax rises would be drastic cuts to frontline services at a time when people at the sharp end of the cost-of-living crisis need us to be there for them. With the financial situation for councils looking extremely tough for the next few years, we will be calling on the Chancellor for further help in the March Budget.”
Which local councils are increasing Council Tax?
So far and in alphabetical order the following councils have confirmed a council tax increase:
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Barking and Dagenham 4.99
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Barnsley 3.9
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Bath and North-East Somerset 4.99
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Bedford 2.9
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Birmingham 4.99
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Blackburn 4.99
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Blackpool 4.99
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Bolton 3.99
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Bournemouth 4.99
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Bradford 4.99
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Brent 2.99
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Brighton and Hove 4.99
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Bristol 4.99
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Bucks 4.99
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Cambridgeshire 4.99
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Cheshire East 4.99
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Cheshire West 4.99
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Cornwall 4.99
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Coventry 4.99
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Croydon 15
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Cumberland Council 4.99
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Darlington 4.99
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Derbyshire 3.75
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Doncaster 3.99
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Dorset 3.99
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Dudley 4.99
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Durham 4.99
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East Riding 4.99
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East Sussex 4.99
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Enfield 4.99
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Essex 3.5
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Gloucestershire 4.99
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Greenwich 4.99
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Halton 4.99
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Hammersmith & Fulham 4.99
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Hampshire 4.99
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Haringey 2.99
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Harrow 4.99
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Hartlepool 4.9
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Havering 4.99
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Herefordshire 4.99
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Hertfordshire 4.99
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Hillingdon 4.99
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Hull 4.99
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Isle of Wight 4.99
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Islington 4.99
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Kent 4.95
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Kingston Upon Thames 4.99
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Lancashire 3.99
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Leeds 4.99
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Leicestershire 4.99
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Lincolnshire 4.99
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Luton 4.99
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Manchester 4.99
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Medway 4.99
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Merton 4.99
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Middlesbrough 3.99
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Milton Keynes 4.99
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Newcastle 2.99
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Newham 4.99
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Norfolk 4.99
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North East Lincolnshire 4.98
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North Lincolnshire 4.99
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North Somerset 4.99
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North Tyneside 4.99
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North Yorkshire 4.99
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North Northamptonshire 4.99
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Northumberland 4.99
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Nottingham 4.99
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Nottinghamshire 4.84
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Oldham 3.99
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Oxfordshire 4.99
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Peterborough 4.99
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Plymouth 4.99
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Redbridge 4.99
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Redcar and Cleveland 3.99
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Rochdale 2.99
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Rotherham 4
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Rutland 4.99
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Salford 4.99
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Shropshire 4.99
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Slough 10
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Solihull 4.99
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Somerset 4.99
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South Tyneside 4.95
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Southend 4.99
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Southwark 4.99
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Staffordshire 4.99
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Stockport 3.99
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Stockton-on-Tees 4.9
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Stoke 4.99
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Suffolk 3.99
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Sunderland 2.99
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Surrey 2.99
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Swindon 4.99
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Telford and Wrekin 2
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Thurrock 10
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Torbay 4.99
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Tower Hamlets 2
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Trafford 4.99
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Wakefield 4.99
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Walsall 2.99
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Warwickshire 3.94
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West Berkshire 4.99
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West Northamptonshire 4.99
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West Sussex 4.99
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Westminster 2
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Wiltshire 4.99
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Windsor and Maidenhead 4.99
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Wirral 4.99
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Wokingham 4.99
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Worcestershire 4.94
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York 4.99
Council Tax rebates
With council tax increasing for most of us now could be a good time to check if you could be owed a council tax rebate.
A council tax rebate may be due in some cases where a property has been overvalued by the VOA giving the property a council tax band which is too high.
You can find out more about council tax rebates and the process of claiming a council tax rebate in our guide.
Council Tax system review
Michael Gove the levelling up secretary for the government announced that the finance minister Lee Rowley is reviewing the council tax system as a whole.
The review has the aim of reforming areas of the local government like funding to improve clarity and efficiencies.
A report from Mr Rowley is expected in 2023 which will provide the government committee his council tax system feedback.
