West Northamptonshire Council Draft Budget 2025 to 2026 Consultation

Closes 21 Jan 2025

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Proposed increase to Council Tax

Key to helping the Council protect essential services whilst balancing the books in its fifth year as a unitary authority is the income it receives from Council Tax.

The Council is proposing to increase the amount of Council Tax by a total of 4.99 per cent (2.99 per cent general increase plus 2 per cent for adult social care), in line with the limit set by Government, which allows for this increase without triggering a referendum.

The proposed Council Tax rise will bring in about £19 million more income for the year. This money will help protect existing services. Without this increase, more services would need to be cut to balance the budget than what is currently suggested in the draft budget.

Example: Breakdown of cost for a Band D property

As an example, the Council Tax for a Band D property in this year is £1,778.25 for West Northamptonshire Council services. 

This will rise by 4.99 per cent to £1,866.98 in 2025 to 2026 for all of the Council services for the whole year, which is an increase of £88.73 per year or £1.71 per week. With the increase, the breakdown cost per week would be £35.90.

What does this look like for other Bands?

Band Current financial year (2024-25) Financial year 2025-26 Increase Amount per week breakdown
A £1185.50 £1244.66 £59.16 £23.94
B £1383.08 £1452.10 £69.02 £27.92
C £1580.67 £1659.54 £78.88 £31.91
D £1778.25 £1866.98 £88.73 £35.90
E £2173.42 £2281.87 £108.45 £43.88
F £2568.58 £2696.76 £128.17 £51.86
G £2963.75 £3111.64 £147.89 £59.84
H £3556.50 £3733.97 £177.47 £71.81

Excludes parish precepts, Fire and Police

3. To what extent do you agree or disagree that we should increase Council Tax by 2.99 per cent to address the additional cost, and protect and invest in services?

Example: What would a 2.99 per cent increase mean for a Band D property?

As an example, a 2.99 per cent general increase would result in an increase of £53.17 per year on a band D property.

4. Use the following space if you would like to tell us why you answered the previous question in the way that you did:
5. If you think this proposal might have a negative effect, please use the space below to explain what that effect could be and suggest ways to avoid it:
6. To what extent do you agree or disagree that we should protect Adult Social Care by increasing Council Tax by 2 per cent to fund the rise in costs?

More information

The Adult Social Care Levy was introduced by the Government as a way of funding social care in light of a growing national funding shortfall due to rising costs and demand.

In recent years councils like us, that are responsible for adult social care, have been allowed to raise an additional amount through council tax, provided this is spent directly on care for the most vulnerable adults and older people.

Example: What would a 2 per cent increase mean for a Band D property?

As an example, a 2 per cent adult social care precept increase would result in an increase of £35.56p per year on a band D property.

7. Use the following space if you have any comments on the impacts of the 2 per cent increase, or any alternative options you feel we should consider:

Thank you for your feedback, once you select Continue below, you will be taken back to the Contents page where you have the option to make further comments on other proposals if you want to.

If you do not wish to comment on other proposals, please scroll to the bottom of the Contents page and select Finish.