UK Councils Approve 4-10% Tax Rises for 2026-2027

Councils across the United Kingdom are approving council tax increases ranging from 4 to 10 percent for the 2026-2027 financial year, as local authorities grapple with multimillion-pound budget shortfalls driven by rising service demands and limited central government funding. These decisions, made in recent full council meetings, aim to balance books without widespread service cuts, though opposition members and residents express concerns over the added financial burden during ongoing cost-of-living pressures.

In Conwy, Wales, councillors voted 34-18 on Thursday to raise council tax by 6.5 percent, generating an additional £5.632 million to address a £7.968 million resource gap. The plan includes £2.236 million in service reductions and £100,000 from reserves. Finance head Amanda Hughes cautioned against depleting reserves further, citing global economic uncertainties from conflicts. Cabinet member for finance Chris Cater attributed the shortfall to inadequate Welsh Government funding, noting Conwy receives £309 per head less than neighboring Denbighshire and has a high social care bill due to its elderly population. "The national funding formula does not give us the full...