Council tax bills in England are set to rise sharply for millions of households in 2025-26. Six councils are leading the charge with some of the highest hikes, while the salaries of the officials managing these councils have also attracted attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The government\u2019s 2025-26 financial year regulations allow councils to raise tax rates in varying amounts depending on their responsibilities.\u00a0Areas such as Bradford and Newham have opted for significant increases, while the salaries of their respective town hall leaders have sparked debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the County Councils Network<\/a><\/strong>, most councils in England have increased council tax to the maximum allowable limit. For councils managing social care, a 4.99% rise is the norm, while smaller councils can only increase rates by 2.99%. However, for 2025-26, six councils were granted permission to impose even higher increases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bradford Council implemented a sharp 10% rise, resulting in an additional \u00a3205 on an average council tax bill. Other councils, including Newham and Windsor and Maidenhead, raised taxes by 9%, while Birmingham, Somerset, and Trafford followed with 7.5% hikes.\u00a0These increases are notable given the economic pressures facing households across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Link Between Tax Increases and Council Leadership Salaries<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n