New data released today has revealed that average council tax
bills have increased by £106 for band D taxpayers in
England, the largest increase in council tax bills since
2003-04 when rates went up by £126. It is the second
largest increase in cash terms since council tax was
introduced.
The 5.1 per cent average increase is the joint
largest increase in percentage terms since 2004-05 when council
tax bills went up by an average of 5.9 per cent for band D
taxpayers.
Birmingham council is imposing the largest
increase on residents of any councils, with band D bills
going up by £163. Five councils, all district councils,
froze or cut council tax. There were Fenland, East
Cambridgeshire, Harlow, Harborough and Castle Point.
The local authorities which imposed the largest council tax
increases in cash terms in 2024-25 (top tier only and excluding
parish precepts) are:
- Birmingham, which increased council tax by
£163 for band D taxpayers
- Slough, which increased council tax by £144
for band D taxpayers
- Thurrock, which increased council tax by
£126 for band D taxpayers
- Gateshead, which increased council tax by
£103 for band D taxpayers
- Nottingham, which increased council tax by
£102 for band D taxpayers
- Rutland, which increased council tax by £100
for band D taxpayers
- Bristol, which increased council tax by £100
for band D taxpayers
- Walsall,, which increased council tax by £99
for band D taxpayers
- Liverpool, which increased council tax by
£97 for band D taxpayers
- Reading, which increased council tax by £96
for band D taxpayers
The local authorities which imposed the smallest council tax
increases in cash terms in 2024-25 (top tier only and excluding
parish precepts) are:
- Wandsworth, which increased council tax by
£10 for band D taxpayers
- Westminster, which increased council tax by
£24 for band D taxpayers
- Hammersmith and Fulham, which increased council tax by
£44 for band D taxpayers
- City of London, which increased council tax by
£48 for band D taxpayers
- Kensington and Chelsea, which increased council tax by
£50 for band D taxpayers
- Tower Hamlets, which increased council tax by
£57 for band D taxpayers
- Hartlepool, which increased council tax by
£58 for band D taxpayers
- Newham, which increased council tax by £60
for band D taxpayers
- Rotherham, which increased council tax by
£61 for band D taxpayers
- Windsor and Maidenhead, which increased council tax by
£62 for band D taxpayers
The local authorities with the largest increases in council tax
in percentage terms in 2024-25 (for all local authorities and
excluding parish precepts) are:
- Woking, which increased council tax by 10
per cent
- Birmingham, which increased council tax by
10 per cent
- Slough, which increased council tax by 8.5
per cent
- Thurrock, which increased council tax by 8
per cent
- Thurrock, which increased council tax by 8 per
cent
The local authorities with the smallest increases in council tax
in percentage terms in 2024-25 (for all local authorities and
excluding parish precepts) are:
- Fenland, which reduced council tax by 0.2 per
cent
- Harlow, which froze council tax
- Castle Point, which froze council tax
- Harborough, which froze council tax
- East Cambridgeshire, which froze council tax
- Dartford, which increased council tax by 2 per
cent
- Newcastle-under-Lyme, which increased council tax by
2 per cent
- Mid Suffolk, which increased council tax by 2 per
cent
- Wandsworth, which increased council tax by 2.1 per
cent
- North West Leicestershire, which increased council tax by
2.5 per cent
Responding to the data, Benjamin Elks, grassroots
development manager of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:
“Local residents up and down the country are
taking yet another hit to dwindling household budgets.
“With bright spots few and far between, the vast
majority of taxpayers face a further increase to already sky-high
bills.
“Councils should learn from the rare examples
where rates were frozen to find out how they can achieve similar
results next time round.”