Nearly nine in 10 (88 per cent) of 153 upper-tier authorities in England will impose a 4.99 per cent increase this year, the most allowed without triggering a local referendum.
Six councils have been granted permission by the Government to raise council tax above 5 per cent without holding a local referendum as part of efforts to stay afloat.
‘Residents paying more but receiving less services’
But he said this approach was “not a solution to local government finance”.
“But at the same time, it’s incredibly difficult because ultimately our residents are having to pay more, and at a time when they are seeing less services because the services go to those people most in need of adults and children’s social care.”
Only nine councils are increasing council tax by less than 4.5 per cent this year.
Council tax in Essex will rise by 3.75 per cent, in Rotherham by 3 per cent and in Lincolnshire by 2.99 per cent.
The council said “sound financial management is at the heart of everything we do”.
However, the vast majority of residents in England continue to face maximum council tax increases.
While 68 per cent of upper-tier councils have raised council tax by the maximum in each of the past three years, 84 per cent have done so in both 2025-26 and 2024/25, PA analysis shows.
This includes three Labour-run authorities, Newham, Bradford and Birmingham, who have been allowed to increase bills above 4.99 per cent this year due to severe financial difficulties.
The West Midlands city’s residents are facing weeks of rats and rubbish pile-ups after the extension of a bin workers’ strike, which began in January.
All 20 councils in the South East have approved an increase of 4.99 per cent or more this year, including an 8.99 per cent rise by Windsor and Maidenhead.
A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: “While councils are ultimately responsible for setting their own council tax levels, we are clear that they should put taxpayers first and carefully consider the impact of their decisions.
A spokesperson for the Local Government Association, which represents councils across England, said: “Councils continue to face severe funding shortages and soaring cost and demand pressures on local services.
“However, while council tax is an important funding stream, the significant financial pressures facing local services cannot be met by council tax income alone. It also raises different amounts in different parts of the country – unrelated to need.
“The Spending Review needs to ensure councils have adequate funding to deliver the services local people want to see.”
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