Eight English areas have lowest council tax increases

Many areas in England will see council tax bills rise starting in April. A total of 156 councils plan to increase their rates. Most will raise bills by 5% or more. One council, Bradford, will have the highest increase at 9.99%. However, eight councils will have smaller increases. Residents in these areas will see their bills rise by 2% to 4%. These councils are Derby (3.99%), Doncaster (3.99%), Essex (3.75%), Kensington & Chelsea (4%), Lincolnshire (2.99%), North East Lincolnshire (3.98%), Rotherham (3%), and Wandsworth (2%). Council tax helps pay for local services like rubbish collection, libraries, and parks. Normally, councils cannot raise their rates by over 5% without a local vote. This year, many councils are struggling financially and have chosen to increase their charges significantly. Most households in England will face at least a 4.99% hike. In total, 153 councils are raising their bills by this amount or more. This trend reflects the ongoing budget challenges faced by local authorities across the country.