A council has agreed a "tough" 5% increase in council tax. Dorset Council's finance portfolio holder Simon Clifford said the authority was having to make hard decisions in the budget, which comes into effect in April. For a band D property, the increase amounts to an extra £1.91 per week.

Hampshire County Council will increase council tax by an inflation-busting 4.995 per cent for 2025/26. The decision today (Thursday, February 13) means that the council tax for band D for the year beginning April 1,

People living in Gosport are facing their borough council tax rising by the maximum amount – but even that “is not enough”.

The leader of Birmingham City Council has said the authority will not need to raise council tax above a government limit in future years. Taxes in the city will rise by 7.49% from April, after the government intervened to stop a requested 10% hike. Authorities are normally limited to a 4.99% increase without a local referendum.