Issue - meetings

Consideration of the recommendations of Cabinet in respect of Setting the Council Tax 2026/27.

Due to the timescales and print deadlines, the recommendations of the meeting of Cabinet held on 10 February 2026 will be circulated to Members in advance of the meeting of Council.

In accordance with CPR 8.5 of the Constitution there will be a recorded vote for this item.

Item CB 26/20 referred from the Cabinet of 10 February 2026 recommended that a 3% or £7.35 per annum increase in the Borough Council’s element of the Council Tax for 2026/27, representing a notional ‘average’ charge at Band D of £252.65 be approved.

As the billing authority, the Council was required to resolve the levels of council tax for each Band and for each area within the borough consolidating the requirements from all precepting authorities. A Council Tax Resolution incorporating all this information was presented to Members as a supplement to the agenda (attached at Annex 1).

It was proposed by Councillor Boughton and seconded by Councillor Betts that the recommendations at Minute CB 26/20 be adopted.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 8.5 voting was recorded as follows:

Members voting for the motion:

Cllrs Banks, Barton, Bell, Bennison, Betts, Bishop, Boughton, Boxall, Bridge, Brown, Cannon, Chapman, Clokey, Cope, Dalton, Davis,  Hammond, Harman, Hickmott, Hood,  Hoskins, Hudson, Keers, King, Lark, McDermott, Mehmet, Oakley, Oliver, Palmer, Parry, Pilgrim, Rhodes, Roud, Tanner, Tatton, Taylor, Thornewell, Tunstall and Williams

Total: 40

Members voting against the motion: 0

Total: 0

Members abstaining: 0

Total: 0

(Total number of Members eligible to vote = 40)

RESOLVED:  That

(1)             the recommendations at Minute CB 26/20 be approved; and

(2)             the Council Tax Resolution 2026/27, as set out as an Annex to these Minutes, be adopted.

This report takes Cabinet through the process of setting the level of Council Tax for the financial year 2026/27 and seeks Cabinet’s recommendations.

The joint report of the Chief Executive, Head of Finance, the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance, Waste and Technical Services set out the requirements under the Local Government Finance Act 1992 for a billing authority to set an amount of council tax for each category of dwelling in its area.  Members were advised of the position concerning the determination of their respective precepts for 2026/27 by the major precepting authorities.

Consideration was given to a draft resolution (attached at Annex 2) identifying the process to be undertaken in arriving at the levels of council tax applicable to each part of the Borough.  The resolution and further information regarding the precepts of the other authorities would be reported to Council on 24 February 2026.

In recognition that Council Tax provided the major proportion of the Borough Council’s Revenue Funding and to provide an efficient service for all residents, Cllr Boughton proposed, Cllr Betts seconded and Cabinet

*RECOMMENDED: That

(1)        the draft resolution, which would be completed and presented to the Council, be noted; and

(2)        the Council be recommended to approve a 3% or £7.35 per annum increase in the Borough Council’s element of the council tax for 2026/27, representing a notional ‘average’ charge at Band D of £252.65.

*Recommended to Council