Households across England are facing steep council tax increases for the next financial year, with more than four in five top-tier authorities preparing to raise bills by close to the maximum permitted amount.
Analysis of Press Association data shows 125 councils, equivalent to 82 per cent of England’s 153 top-tier authorities, are planning increases of at least 4.99 per cent for 2026/27.
That compares with 134 authorities which implemented similar rises in the previous year.
The increases come as many households continue to contend with higher housing, grocery and energy costs.
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Some councils are proposing rises well above the standard 4.99 per cent threshold.
Shropshire Council, which is led by the Liberal Democrats, has proposed an 8.99 per cent increase for the coming year.
Senior figures at the authority have said that even an increase of that scale would only partially address its financial pressures.
North Somerset Council has already approved an 8.99 per cent rise.
The council, which operates under no overall political control and includes Labour, Liberal Democrat, Green and Independent members, estimates Band D households in the area, including Weston-super-Mare, will pay around £160 more per year.
Council tax is set to rise across the country
|GETTY
In Worcestershire, Worcestershire County Council, where Reform leads a minority administration, is proposing an 8.98 per cent increase.
Council leaders there have warned the authority faces the risk of effective bankruptcy without significant financial adjustments.
Trafford Council, led by Labour, is considering a 7.49 per cent rise, while neighbouring Warrington Borough Council, also under Labour control, is examining a 7.48 per cent increase.
Windsor and Maidenhead Council, run by the Liberal Democrats, has proposed a 7.49 per cent uplift.
Under current rules set by the Government, councils may increase council tax by up to 4.99 per cent without triggering a local referendum.
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North Somerset will go up by almost nine per cent
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A total of 119 of the 153 top-tier authorities have either proposed or confirmed increases at that level.
Six councils facing severe financial strain are seeking permission from central Government to exceed the cap.
The pattern of increases spans all major political parties.
Among the 78 Labour-controlled top-tier councils, 67 are planning rises of at least 4.99 per cent.
Of the 26 Conservative-led councils, 23 are pursuing comparable increases.
Of the 18 Liberal Democrat‑run councils that have set out plans, all but one intend to raise bills by at least 4.99 per cent
|GETTY
Of the 18 Liberal Democrat-led authorities that have announced plans, all but one intend to raise bills by at least 4.99 per cent.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: "Local authorities decide the level of council tax they wish to set, which reflects the service needs of each area, and we are clear that in doing so they should put taxpayers first."
The Government has allocated more than £78billion for council funding in the next financial year.
That settlement represents a six per cent increase compared with 2025/26.
Full list of proposed and confirmed top-tier council tax rises in England
- County councils
Cambridgeshire (Eastern England), Lib Dem majority: 4.99 per cent confirmed
Derbyshire (East Midlands), Ref maj: 4.9 per cent confirmed
Devon (SW England), Lib Dem min: 4.99 per cent confirmed
East Sussex (SE England), Con min: 4.99 per cent confirmed
Essex (Eastern England), Con maj: 3.95 per cent confirmed
Gloucestershire (SW England), Lib Dem min: 4.99 per cent confirmed
Hampshire (SE England), Con maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Hertfordshire (Eastern England), Lib Dem min: 4.99 per cent confirmed
Kent (SE England), Ref maj: 3.99 per cent confirmed
Lancashire (NW England), Ref maj: 3.8 per cent proposed
Leicestershire (East Midlands), Ref min: 2.99 per cent confirmed
Lincolnshire (East Midlands), Ref maj: 2.9 per cent confirmed
Norfolk (Eastern England), Con maj: 4.99 per cent confirmed
Nottinghamshire (East Midlands), Ref maj: 3.99 per cent proposed
Oxfordshire (SE England), Lib Dem maj: 4.99 per cent confirmed
Staffordshire (West Midlands), Ref maj: 3.99 per cent confirmed
Suffolk (Eastern England), Con maj: 4.99 per cent confirmed
Surrey (SE England), Con min: 4.99 per cent confirmed
Warwickshire (West Midlands), Ref min: 4.4 per cent confirmed
West Sussex (SE England), Con maj: 4.99 per cent confirmed
- London boroughs
Barking & Dagenham, Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Barnet, Lab maj: 4.98 per cent proposed
Bexley, Con maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Brent, Lab maj: 4.99 per cent confirmed
Bromley, Con maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Camden, Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
City of London, Ind maj: tbc
Croydon, Con min: 4.99 per cent proposed
Ealing, Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Enfield, Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Greenwich, Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Hackney, Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Hammersmith & Fulham, Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Haringey, Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Harrow, Con maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Havering, Resident min: 4.99 per cent proposed
Hillingdon, Con maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Hounslow, Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Islington, Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Kensington & Chelsea, Con maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Kingston-upon-Thames, Lib Dem maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Lambeth, Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Lewisham, Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed Merton, Lab maj: two per cent proposed
Newham, Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Redbridge, Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Richmond-upon-Thames, Lib Dem maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Southwark, Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed Sutton, Lib Dem maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Tower Hamlets, Aspire maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Waltham Forest, Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Wandsworth, Lab maj: two per cent proposed
Westminster, Lab maj: two per cent proposed
- Metropolitan boroughs
Barnsley (Yorkshire & Humber), Lab maj: 3.4 per cent proposed
Birmingham (West Midlands), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Bolton (NW England), Lab min: 4.99 per cent proposed
Bradford (Yorkshire & Humber), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Bury (NW England), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Calderdale (Yorkshire & Humber), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent confirmed
Coventry (West Midlands), Lab maj: 3.95 per cent proposed
Doncaster (Yorkshire & Humber), Ref maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Dudley (West Midlands), Con min: 4.99 per cent confirmed
Gateshead (NE England), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Kirklees (Yorkshire & Humber), Lab min: 4.99 per cent proposed
Knowsley (NW England), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Leeds (Yorkshire & Humber), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Liverpool (NW England), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Manchester (NW England), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Newcastle-upon-Tyne (NE England), Lab min: 4.99 per cent proposed
North Tyneside (NE England), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent confirmed
Oldham (NW England), Lab min: 4.99 per cent proposed
Rochdale (NW England), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Rotherham (Yorkshire & Humber), Lab maj: 3.95 per cent proposed
Salford (NW England), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Sandwell (West Midlands), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Sefton (NW England), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Sheffield (Yorkshire & Humber), Lab-Lib Dem-Green: 4.99 per cent proposed
Solihull (West Midlands), Con maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
South Tyneside (NE England), Lab min: 4.95 per cent proposed
St Helens (NW England), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Stockport (NW England), Lib Dem min: 4.99 per cent proposed
Sunderland (NE England), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Tameside (NW England), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Wakefield (Yorkshire & Humber), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Walsall (West Midlands), Con maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Wigan (NW England), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Wirral (NW England), Lab min: 4.99 per cent proposed
Wolverhampton (West Midlands), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
- Unitary authorities
Bath & North East Somerset (SW England), Lib Dem maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Bedford (Eastern England), Con min: 4.99 per cent proposed
Blackburn with Darwen (NW England), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Blackpool (NW England), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole (SW England), Lib Dem-Ind: 4.99 per cent proposed
Bracknell Forest (SE England), Lab min: 4.99 per cent proposed
Brighton & Hove (SE England), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Bristol (SW England), Green-Lib Dem: 4.99 per cent confirmed
Buckinghamshire (SE England), Con min: 4.99 per cent proposed
Central Bedfordshire (Eastern England), Ind min: 4.99 per cent proposed
Cheshire East (NW England), Lab-Ind: 4.99 per cent proposed
Cheshire West & Chester (NW England), Lab min: 4.99 per cent proposed
Cornwall (SW England), Lib Dem-Ind: 4.99 per cent proposed
Cumberland (NW England), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Darlington (NE England), Lab-Lib Dem: 4.99 per cent confirmed
Derby (East Midlands), Lab min: 4.99 per cent proposed
Dorset (SW England), Lib Dem-Green: 4.99 per cent confirmed
Durham (NE England), Ref maj: 1.99 per cent confirmed
East Riding of Yorkshire (Yorkshire & Humber), Con min: 4.99 per cent confirmed
Halton (NW England), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Hartlepool (NE England), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Herefordshire (West Midlands), Con min: 4.99 per cent confirmed
Hull City (Yorkshire & Humber), Lib Dem maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Isle of Wight (SE England), Ind-Green: 4.99 per cent proposed
Isles of Scilly (SW England), Ind: tbc
Leicester (East Midlands), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Luton (Eastern England), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent confirmed
Medway (SE England), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Middlesbrough (NE England), Lab maj: two per cent confirmed
Milton Keynes (SE England), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent confirmed
North East Lincolnshire (Yorkshire & Humber), Con min: 4.5 per cent confirmed
North Lincolnshire (Yorkshire & Humber), Con maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
North Northamptonshire (East Midlands), Ref maj: 4.99 per cent confirmed
North Yorkshire (Yorkshire & Humber), Con min: 4.99 per cent confirmed
Northumberland (NE England), Con min: 4.99 per cent confirmed
Nottingham (East Midlands), Lab maj: 3.50 per cent proposed
Peterborough (Eastern England), Lab min: 4.99 per cent proposed
Plymouth (SW England), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent confirmed
Portsmouth (SE England), Lib Dem min: 4.99 per cent proposed
Reading (SE England), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Redcar & Cleveland (NE England), Lab min: 4.99 per cent proposed
Rutland (East Midlands), Lib Dem min: two per cent proposed
Slough (SE England), Con min: 4.99 per cent proposed
Somerset (SW England), Lib Dem maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
South Gloucestershire (SW England), Lib Dem-Lab: 4.99 per cent confirmed
Southampton (SE England), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Southend-on-Sea (Eastern England), Lab-Lib Dem-Ind: 4.99 per cent proposed
Stockton-on-Tees (NE England), Lab min: 4.95 per cent confirmed
Stoke-on-Trent (West Midlands), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Swindon (SW England), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Telford & Wrekin (West Midlands), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Thurrock (Eastern England), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Torbay (SW England), Con min: 4.75 per cent proposed
West Berkshire (SE England), Lib Dem maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
West Northamptonshire (East Midlands), Ref maj: 4.95 per cent proposed
Westmorland & Furness (NW England), Lib Dem maj: 4.99 per cent proposed
Wiltshire (SW England), Lib Dem-Ind: 4.99 per cent proposed
Wokingham (SE England), Lib Dem maj: tbc
York (Yorkshire & Humber), Lab maj: 4.99 per cent confirmed
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