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County Council approves council tax rise

By Lauren Monaghan, Junior Local Democracy Reporter

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Nottinghamshire County Council has approved a 4.84 per cent council tax increase – despite one councillor calling it “debilitating” for some residents – and rejected the Labour group’s alternative options for the council’s finances.

Nottinghamshire County Council met today (February 27) in a full council meeting to discuss the authority’s budget proposals for the 2025/26 financial year.

A council tax rise of 4.84 per cent – 0.15 below the maximum – was approved for the year beginning April 2025, including a two per cent increase specifically to fund social care.

Just above 59 per cent of properties in Nottinghamshire are in tax bands A and B, meaning most households will have an increase of less than £1.20 each week.

The average weekly increase for all homes in Nottinghamshire will be £1.43.

Reading the budget report, Councillor Richard Jackson (Con), cabinet member for finance, said setting it below the maximum consistently over the course of the current administration has “saved Nottinghamshire tax payers £22 million pounds”.

The council tax rise was scrutinised by opposition councillors, with independent councillors noting a nearly £90 added cost a year for residents, based on a Band D property, following the cost of living crisis experienced by residents.

Speaking in the meeting, Cllr Jason Zadrozny (Ind), the leader of the opposition, said: “Every councillor supporting this budget should pay their £90 first – today.

“Take out your wallet. Donate £90 to the Chairman’s Charity. Lead by example. Show the people of Nottinghamshire that you’re willing to pay for the mess you’ve created.”

Cllr Purdue-Horan (Ind) added: “The taxpayers cannot afford to put up with the high taxing Tories.

“The Nottinghamshire Conservative group are so conditioned, so programmed, to accept inflation and busting council tax increases, they can’t be bothered to even make the effort to raise their eyebrows at the record level of £1,894.54 for the average [tax rate set]of a Band D property.”

Responding to councillors’ reservations over council tax to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Cllr Jackson said: “It safeguards the services we deliver but at the same time, keeps the council tax down, whilst keeping those vital services functioning.”

The Labour group at the council put forward a budget amendment for 2025/26, including selling Oak House – the council’s new headquarters – £1.75 million for SEND services, £500,000 to tackle antisocial behaviour and reallocating £1.5 million of the highways maintenance budget to repair pavements.

This amendment made note of the extra £34 million the council was getting from the Labour Government for 2025/26.

Cllr Kate Foale, who’s leader of the Labour Group at the council, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “This is putting people front and centre of the alternative budget.

“When we’ve done consultations, antisocial behaviour comes top of the list in terms of people’s concerns now- they’re feeling a bit unsafe.”

Cllr Jim Creamer (Lab) added in a press statement: “I am baffled as to why the Tories have decided to spend critical revenue money on potholes when the East Midlands Mayor has just pledged £75 million to fix the roads in our
region. Labour will instead spend this money on making our streets safer and improving life chances for our children.”

Responding to the Labour amendment to the LDRS, Cllr Jackson (Con) described it as “incorrect”, saying: “Labour’s amendment actually accepts more than 99.5 per cent of our budget, it’s a difference of £3 million that they want to spend differently.

“We’ve chose to invest that in the highways as it’s the biggest issue for residents.

“That £3.3 million into highways is the equivalent of 66,000 potholes.”

The Conservative-led authority’s budget gap shortfall by the 2028/29 financial year is expected to be £21.8 million, down from the £36 million figure previously anticipated between 2025 to 2028.

It’s estimated costs of increased National Insurance contributions – enforced following the Labour Government’s budget last autumn – are £14.3 million.

This will be covered in part by a £5.3 million contributions grant from the Government for 2025/26.

The budget report shows an increase in the overall spending across council departments, including adult social care and children’s services, of more than £64 million for 2025/26 compared with 2024/25.

The budget paper also reads “cost pressures for 2025/26 are £34.1m higher” than what was assumed back in February 2024.

The full County Council tax increases are as follows:

Band A properties will pay £58.31 more for the year, with Band B paying £68.02 more, Band C paying £77.75 more, Band D paying £87.46 more, Band E paying £106.90 more, Band F paying £126.33 more, Band G paying £145.77 more and Band H paying £174.92 more.

Voting for the Labour amendment stood at 11 for and 49 against, with 37 councillors voting for the ruling Conservative council’s main budget proposals, and 23 voting against.