Issue

council tax

41 stories · discussed at 14 council meetings · 23 councils

Councils are grappling with significant budget shortfalls, leading to discussions and approvals of council tax increases.

Councils are currently grappling with significant budget shortfalls, leading to discussions and decisions regarding council tax. Sutton Council faces a £36.5 million budget gap over three years, as reported in October 2026. Lambeth Council projected a £9.3 million overspend for the first quarter of 2026/27 in September 2026, while Barnet Council forecast a £2.6 million Q1 overspend for the same period. These pressures, often driven by rising demand in social care and temporary accommodation, have prompted councils like Wandsworth to consider council tax increases, as discussed in July 2026.

Following these financial pressures, several councils approved council tax increases earlier in 2026. Waltham Forest Council approved a 4.99% increase in May 2026, including an Adult Social Care Precept. Haringey Council, Croydon Council, Southwark Council, and Enfield Council also approved similar increases in March 2026. Looking ahead, Croydon Council's Cabinet agreed in September 2026 to consult on potential changes to its Council Tax Support Scheme for working-age residents, indicating ongoing review of how the local government tax is applied.

Council tax, a local government tax based on residential property value used to fund local services, is being discussed as councils face escalating costs. Many councils, including Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, and Bexley, have reported projected budget deficits extending to 2030 and beyond, citing government funding reforms, inflation, and social care demands as key drivers.

Key facts

  1. Sutton Council faces a projected budget gap of £36.5 million over the next three years. Source
  2. Lambeth Council projects a £9.3 million overspend for the first quarter of 2026/27. Source
  3. Barnet Council forecasts a £2.621 million overspend for Q1 of the 2026-27 financial year. Source
  4. Hounslow Council formally adopted its One Hounslow Financial Strategy 2026-2030 in September 2026. Source
  5. Waltham Forest Council approved a 4.99% increase in council tax in May 2026. Source
About this summary

This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on, with background from Wikipedia. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 7 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.

Stories, page 5

  1. Croydon Council to Increase Council Tax by 4.99% Amid Financial Challenges Croydon residents will see a 4.99% increase in their council tax bills next year, as the council grapples with ongoing financial challenges stemming from a £1.4 billion debt... Croydon 22 November 2025
  2. Croydon Council Appeals for Fairer National Funding Amid Financial Challenges Croydon Council is appealing for a fairer share of national funding, citing a 'postcode lottery' that disadvantages its residents and businesses. The council warns that a... Croydon 22 November 2025
  3. Brent Council to Consult on 4.99% Council Tax Increase to Protect Frontline Services Brent Council is proposing a 4.99% increase in council tax for the 2026-27 financial year, a move intended to protect vital frontline services. The decision, which includes a 2%... Brent 18 November 2025
  4. Hillingdon Council Faces £30.2M Budget Overspend Hillingdon Council is facing a significant financial challenge with a projected £30.2 million budget overspend, primarily driven by increasing demand for essential statutory... Hillingdon 28 October 2025
  5. Lewisham Council Tax Collection Below Target; New Measures Planned Lewisham Council's tax collection rates have fallen below targeted levels, prompting the council to implement new measures to improve efficiency. The drop in collection rates... Lewisham 19 September 2025
  6. Haringey Mulls Council Tax Hike Up to 4.99% Amid Financial Pressures Haringey residents could see their council tax bills rise by up to 4.99% as the council grapples with significant financial pressures driven by increasing demand for adult... Haringey 26 July 2025
  7. Haringey Council Faces £143M Funding Cut and Rising Universal Credit Claims, Considers Council Tax Hikes and Service Fees Haringey Council is facing significant financial strain as core funding from the government has decreased by £143 million since 2010. At the same time, the number of residents... Haringey 26 July 2025
  8. Lambeth to Insource Call Centre, Outsource Debt Recovery Lambeth Council is set to insource its call centre operations while outsourcing debt recovery, marking a significant shift in its approach to customer service and financial... Lambeth 22 July 2025