Council Tax 2026 household bills to rise by hundreds this April
Households face higher costs from April due to further council tax hikes with the highest bill for a band D property in Gloucestershire just shy of £2,636.
Gloucestershire County Council agreed their revenue budget which totals £698m last month to pay for services such as social care, roadworks, waste disposal and education for 2026/27.
Councillors backed the plans which means the proportion of the annual council tax bill for a band D property which goes towards Shire Hall services will rise to £1,763.46 up £83.81 from this year.
The 4.99 per cent increase is made up of a 2.99 per cent hike plus a two per cent adult social care precept increase.
On top of that, the average household bill paid for the running of Gloucestershire Constabulary will rise by 5.7 per cent to £340.58 for band D properties – this rise is equivalent to £18.50.
Gloucester City Council
The bill Gloucester residents pay to the City Council is also rising by 2.99 per cent.
This means those living in a band D house will have to pay £244.13 for their services in the upcoming financial year. This is up from £237.04 in the current year.
The financially beleaguered council was given a lifeline last month as the Government agreed in principle to a £15.5m bailout.
This vital funding saves the authority from having to issue a section 114 which would have made it effectively bankrupt. And this allowed councillors to approve the almost £27.7m budget for next year which will be part of their recovery plan.
Quedgeley residents will also have to pay extra towards their town council. This is £45.82 for band D properties.
The highest bill for a band D property in Gloucester for the year will be £2,393.53.
Cheltenham Borough Council
Councillors unanimously backed Cheltenham Borough Council’s £19.24m budget for the upcoming financial year.
It means band D properties in the spa town will have to pay £252.11 per year for the services provided by Cheltenham Borough Council up from £244.79 currently.
The budget for 2026/27 includes growth of £159,000 and makes additional contributions to general fund balances to bring them up to £1.5m.
The charges for parish councils for band D properties will be £55.93 in Charlton Kings, £39.73 in Leckhampton with Warden Hill, £37.02 in Prestbury, £19.33 in Swindon Village and £14.69 in Up Hatherley.
The highest bill for a band D property in the Borough for the year will be £2,412.08
Cotswold District Council
Cotswold taxpayers will have to pay 3.14 per cent more for District Council services from April.
This is the equivalent to a £5 rise to £163.93 for band D properties.
But finance chiefs say the authority remains in a secure and stable financial position and does not need exceptional financial support to avoid bankruptcy as has been sought by other councils.
The council’s revenue budget for the year will be £17.21m and their general fund reserves remain strong at £1.760m.
A total of £2 million will be allocated for local government reorganisation in the county and £2.2 million is being moved from revenue to fund capital projects.
The council has approved a £10.5m capital programme which includes investment in the waste and recycling fleet.
Where applicable, residents in the Cotswold District will also pay towards their town and parish councils.
The highest bill in the District will be in Cirencester where band D properties will be charged £2,537.78 for the year.
Forest of Dean District Council
People living in band D properties in the Forest of Dean District Council will be charged £218.29 a year for their services from April – an extra £.6.34.
Councillors agreed to spend more than £1m from its reserves on a dozen projects over the next two years as they have approved a 2.99 per cent council tax increase
The revenue budget totals £13.46m and will pay for services including rubbish and recycling collection, planning, environmental services, business support, housing, leisure centres, and public parking.
Finance chiefs said the council will see a real-term reduction in funding over the next three years before inflationary pressures are taken into account.
Residents will also pay towards their respective parish and town council services.
The highest bill for a band D property in the Forest of Dean will be in Lydney where it totals £2,547.96.
Stroud District Council
The average bill for band D properties in the Stroud District will rise to £250.35 from April – up from £7.27 on the current financial year.
Temporary uses for Brimscombe Port will be considered as Stroud District Council has agreed to set aside £10,000 for it as part of the budget for the next financial year.
The council said late last year it is still moving forward with the flagship project to redevelop the former inland port, which dates back to the 1780s.
However, while they seek a new development partner who shares their vision for the site, councillors have agreed to set up a refreshed project board to help guide the next phase.
The council will also explore temporary uses for the site so it can benefit the community while longer-term plans take shape.
Its budget for 2026/27 will be over £25.19m includes a 2.99 per cent increase.
District residents will also pay for parish and town council services where applicable.
The highest bill for a band D property in the district from April will be £2,635.97 in the town of Stroud
Tewkesbury Borough Council
People living in Tewkesbury will be charged 3.34 per cent more in council tax for borough services from April which remains one of the lowest in the country.
Tewkesbury Borough Council has approved its net budget of almost £14m for the upcoming financial year.
The proposals mean band D properties will see the charge for borough council services rise by £5 to £154.36 per year.
Borough chiefs raised concerns during the budget meeting that rural district councils such as Tewkesbury are not a priority with metropolitan unitary authorities “seemingly getting more of the pie once again”.
Tewkesbury Borough residents will also be paying towards their pay towards their town and parish councils where there is a charge.
People in Northway will pay the highest council tax bill in the borough from April. A band D property in the village will be charged £2430.87.