Nottinghamshire County Council is proposing to increase its share of council tax by 3.99 per cent in 2026/27 as part of its draft budget, which is due to be considered by councillors later this winter.
The proposal forms part of the authority’s budget report to Cabinet on 29 January, ahead of a final decision by Full Council on 26 February.
The proposed increase is below the maximum level permitted under government rules. For 2026/27, councils with responsibility for adult social care are allowed to raise council tax by up to 3 per cent, plus an additional 2 per cent adult social care precept. Nottinghamshire County Council is proposing a single overall increase of 3.99 per cent rather than using the full 5 per cent available.
According to the council’s budget report, the proposed rise reflects an attempt to balance the need to fund services against the ongoing cost of living pressures faced by households. The council notes that central government funding assumptions are based on the expectation that councils will maximise council tax increases, but says it has chosen not to apply the full increase allowed for 2026/27.
If approved, the increase would mean a rise of £75.59 a year for a Band D property for the county council element of the bill, taking it from £1,894.54 to £1,970.13. For Band A properties, which make up the largest proportion of homes in Nottinghamshire, the increase would be £50.39 a year. The council says that around 59 per cent of properties in the county fall into Bands A and B, meaning most households would see an increase of around £1.03 per week, with an average increase of £1.24 per week across all households. These figures would be reduced for residents who receive council tax support or discounts, such as single person discounts.
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The council tax increase is intended to help fund a proposed total revenue budget of £875.7 million for 2026/27. The council continues to face significant financial pressures, particularly from rising demand and costs in adult social care and children’s services, alongside wider inflationary pressures. While Nottinghamshire County Council says it remains in a stronger financial position than many authorities nationally, it has set out that council tax remains a key part of maintaining a balanced budget and protecting services.
Public consultation carried out as part of the budget-setting process found that 59 per cent of respondents supported some form of council tax increase, with 35 per cent backing an increase up to the referendum limit and a further 24 per cent supporting an increase below that level. Thirty-seven per cent of respondents said they opposed an increase. The council says this feedback has informed the proposals now being put forward.
The county council’s share of council tax is only one part of the overall bill paid by residents. Final amounts will also depend on decisions made by district and borough councils, the Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner, the Combined Fire Authority, and any parish or town council precepts.
The proposals will be debated by councillors before a final decision is taken at Full Council on 26 February. If approved, the new council tax rates would come into effect from April 2026.
