Waltham Forest Council has approved a nearly 5% increase in council tax for the upcoming financial year, a decision confirmed at a Council meeting on Thursday, May 21, 2026.
The basic council tax will rise by 2.99%, with an additional 2% earmarked for Adult Social Care, resulting in a total increase of 4.99%. This decision was made following the approval of the Public reports pack for the meeting.
For a Band D property, the council tax bill will now stand at £1,876.45. When the Greater London Authority's precept of £510.51 is factored in, the overall council tax for a Band D property reaches £2,386.96, marking an increase of 4.80%.
The impact of this increase extends across all council tax bands. For instance, Band A properties will see a total bill of £1,250.97, while Band H properties will face a significantly higher charge of £3,752.90. The full breakdown for each band, including the basic council tax, the social care precept, and the GLA precept, is detailed in the meeting's Decisions document.
Several amendments proposed by opposition councillors, which sought to reduce spending or reallocate funds, were defeated during the meeting. The Agenda frontsheet outlines the proposals discussed.
