Council plans maximum 10p-a-week tax rise for most households

The 1.99% per cent increase proposed by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council will mean 95 per cent of the borough’s households will pay no more than 10 pence a week extra – while many properties will pay less.

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 has 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.

The borough council is overseeing the once-in-a-generation regeneration of Ryecroft, Astley Place and the Midway, which will bring scores of homes, plus shops, music venue and an aparthotel to the town centre, supported by the opening of the clean, safe Castle car park for shoppers and visitors.

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:

Budget consultation will run from 25 November to 1 January for people to provide feedback, before the budget is set in February.

Public consultations – Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council