Borough Council confirms most residents will pay 10p a week more for services

Nineteen out of 20 households will pay no more than 10p a week extra for borough council services.

Despite keeping the increase to 1.99 per cent, the authority is still pledging investment in front-line services, town centre regeneration, protection of green spaces and a freeze in car park fees.

It is not currently responsible for road maintenance, social care, or supporting children and young people with special educational needs.

Simon Tagg, Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, said:

Since 2018 the council’s Efficiency Board has been responsible for making savings and improvements worth £10 million.
 

That allows us to carry on delivering effective front-line services for residents while keeping council tax down.
 

Investing in energy saving measures in the J2 leisure centre, checking hygiene standards at restaurants and takeaways, managing parks and protecting dozens of green spaces from development, collecting bins swiftly and promoting our town centre are all made possible by effective management of our resources.”

In this year’s financial settlement, the Government has cut the borough council’s funding allocation by £1.1 million over the next three years.

The authority is currently overseeing the £90 million-plus once-in-a-generation regeneration of Newcastle town centre, where three projects will bring scores of homes, plus shops, a music venue and an aparthotel to the town centre, supported by the opening of the clean, safe Castle car park for shoppers and visitors.

It has also announced a freeze on car park charges to boost the town centre economy. Also, the popular ‘£1 after 1pm’ deal will stay in place – allowing shoppers to park and stay all afternoon for just £1 on town centre surface car parks, while four free short stay places have been created on the High Street.

Stephen Sweeney, Deputy Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and Cabinet member for Finance, Town Centres and Growth, said:

There is a constant focus on how we can deliver the day-to-day services residents expect, while keeping our costs down in the face of rising bills.”

The confirmed weekly increase for 2026/27 is: