Overview
- All 153 top-tier councils in England have confirmed their 2026/27 council tax increases in a Press Association list published on 11 March.
- Most authorities set rises at or near the 4.99% limit allowed without a referendum, with 118 fixing the maximum increase.
- Seven councils received Government permission to exceed the cap, including North Somerset, Shropshire and Worcestershire at about 8.99%, Trafford, Warrington and Windsor & Maidenhead at 7.49%, and Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole at 6.74%.
- Around 28 councils chose smaller increases, with the lowest in Hartlepool at 1.98% and Durham at 1.99%, and several others at 2.00% such as Doncaster, Merton, Wandsworth and Westminster.
- The figures apply to county councils, metropolitan and London boroughs, and unitary authorities only, excluding lower-tier district councils.