Council tax set to rise by £5 a year in Newcastle-under-Lyme
The Borough Council’s planning an increase that's less than the rate of inflation.
People living in Newcastle-under-Lyme are set to see their council tax go up by around 10 pence a week.
The Borough Council’s planning a 1.99% rise which will come into effect in April 2026.
Earlier this year the council forecast a shortfall of more than £1.7 million for 2026/27 due to Government changes to Business Rates and other additional costs.
Simon Tagg, Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, said: “As a council focused on delivering local services to residents in the face of all the changes and pressures on local authorities, we are pleased that we can propose a balanced budget for next year and keep our share of council tax far below the rate of inflation.
“This will mean from next April almost all households will pay no more than 10p a week extra for their borough council services.”
The council’s Efficiency Board says it's identified savings and efficiency strategies for the coming year to close the shortfall forecasted, and to add to the £10 million found since 2018.
Other moves include renegotiating contracts where possible, being able to reduce contributions to the council’s pension fund for a year because it is performing well beyond expectations, and receiving more income due to a better-than-expected increase in the number of houses and businesses in the borough.
Waste collection and recycling; hygiene inspections of restaurants, cafes and takeaways; street cleaning; running both the J2 leisure centre and Brampton Museum; and maintaining parks and protecting green spaces are all delivered by the Borough Council.
Stephen Sweeney, Deputy Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and Cabinet member for Finance, Town Centres and Growth, said: “With the Government moving funding away from councils, adding costs and uncertainty through forced reorganisation of local government, and delaying devolution of certain powers to the regions, it is important to keep our costs down while continuing to deliver good front-line services.”
The proposed weekly increase for 2025/26 is:
Property
Band Weekly
Increase
£ p
A 0.06
B 0.07
C 0.08
D 0.09
E 0.10
F 0.12
G 0.14
H 0.17
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