Bexley Council plans shift to 12-month council tax payments from 2028

Bexley Council plans shift to 12-month council tax payments from 2028

Bexley Council is planning to move to a 12-month council tax payment system, a change that is expected to be made permanent from 2028. This move, discussed at a Public Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, is part of a wider government initiative to standardise council tax payments nationwide.

Nickie Morris, Deputy Director of Finance and Property, informed the cabinet that while residents have always had the option to spread payments over 12 months, the government intends to make this the permanent system from 2028. This mandatory change will require some administrative adjustments for the council, introducing a degree of complexity into the system. However, there is advance notice of this change, allowing time for the necessary adjustments to be made.

Currently, approximately one in seven households opt for the 12-month payment plan. For residents who currently prefer the 10-month schedule, the drawback of a mandatory 12-month system is that they may lose the benefit of having two months of the year without council tax payments. The meeting notes that some residents prefer paying over 10 months specifically for this reason. While provisions may allow for continued 10-month payments, the mandatory shift to 12 months will introduce complexity.

The shift from 10-month to 12-month council tax payments can create a difference in cash flow, as residents currently pay over 10 months. This indicates a potential impact on the council's financial planning and cash flow management due to the change in payment patterns. However, the impact on the overall amount of council tax collected is not explicitly stated.

It was noted during the meeting that most all councils that I have spoken to already allow that 12 month process and some more people on 12 months than others. This suggests that many other local authorities are already operating with 12-month payment systems, though their specific experiences are not detailed.

The move to 12-month payments is an administrative change and is not directly linked to the council tax rate itself. The discussions and supporting documents can be found in the Public reports pack for the 21 October 2026 meeting.