North Lincolnshire council officials vow to invest despite low council tax rises
They've been facing calls to spend money on improved infrastructure
It's emerged increases in council tax in North Lincolnshire have averaged only 2.6 per cent since 2011/12 – and there was also a five-year freeze.
North Lincolnshire band D households currently pay on average £2,348 in council tax, a 4.9 per cent increase on the previous year and 33.7 per cent higher than the 2011/2012 average of £1,555.39.
This is slightly lower than the council tax in North East Lincolnshire (£2,484) but higher than in the Kingston Upon Hull (£2,295) and Lincoln (£2,323) regions. It is the 130th cheapest council out of 350 in the UK, according to Property Data, and is £44 less than the English average of £2392.
“We know household budgets remain under pressure, so keeping council tax as low as possible and getting maximum value from every pound remains absolutely central to the decisions we make,” said Cabinet member for finance and efficiency, Conservative Cllr Tim Mitchell.
This was highlighted at the North Lincolnshire Full Council meeting as councillors agreed the authority’s latest Treasury Management Annual Report. This set out how borrowing, investments and public money were managed during 2025/26. The report showed the council was £100m below its authorised borrowing limits and they invested £38m in capital projects, with £33m of that expenditure funded during the year.
The council also repaid £40m of borrowing during the year, while investment income reached £1.2m which was approximately twice the amount originally budgeted.
“Taxpayers’ money is sacrosanct and our record over many years shows the importance we place on keeping costs down while continuing to invest in North Lincolnshire.” said Conservative Cllr and leader of North Lincolnshire Council Rob Waltham.
Cllr Waltham said this low percentage increase in council tax and five year price freeze “has been achieved through consistent financial discipline – challenging costs, managing borrowing carefully, making sensible investment decisions and ensuring taxpayers’ money is focused on the things that matter most to residents.”
He said the council will continue to invest in roads, schools, leisure centres, town centres and communities across North Lincolnshire.