By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
Households in Tewkesbury face higher bills from April as borough chiefs have approved a 3.46 per cent tax hike.
Tewkesbury Borough Councillors voted to approve their budget for 2025/26 last night (Tuesday, February 25).
The proportion of council tax which goes towards borough services remains one of the lowest in the country.
In Tewkesbury, the council agreed a balanced budget of £13,450,226. This includes an increase in council tax for a band D property of £5 per year, from £144.36 to £149.36.
The total tax bill households receive will also include Gloucestershire County Council, police and parish council charges.
Shire Hall agreed last week to increase their proportion of tax for a band D property bill by 4.99 per cent to £1,679.65. Gloucestershire Constabulary’s precept is rising by 4.5 per cent.
So from April, for a band D home, this will mean the yearly bill for policing rise by £14 from £308 to £322.
Conservative David Gray (C, Winchcombe) praised council leaders during the debate for having done a good job in difficult circumstances.
The opposition councillor said it is likely to get more difficult in future as the “body language” coming out of central government is not not encouraging for rural councils.
He said metropolitan areas get more funding per head of population than rural councils.
“It’s clear that skew is being pushed even harder by central government,” he said. “What is positive is we are able to set, unlike many other councils, a balanced budget.
“Many councils are unable to and are needing to make cuts to services.” He said it was a sound budget and he would be voting in favour of it.
During the debate several councillors raised concerns about the stopping of a £29,000 subsidy for grass cutting on County Council-owned land.
However, the budget was ultimately passed with 20 votes in favour, with three against and three abstentions.
Speaking after the meeting, finance and asset management lead member Stewart Dove (LD, Churchdown St John’s) said: “It is pleasing that this budget has been approved by the council with cross-party support.
“This means that across the 2025/2026 financial year, the Tewkesbury Borough average householder will pay the council less than £2.90 per week to have bins emptied, food premises inspected, fly tips cleared and all our other vital services delivered.
“Less than eight per cent of the total council tax that householders pay goes towards covering the cost of services provided by the borough council – as the whole bill also supports the county council, local parish and town councils, and the county’s police and crime commissioner – but we will nevertheless be seeking to provide excellent value for money as always and deliver on our council ambitions.
“I’m especially pleased that this budget will support this administration’s commitment to tackling the climate and ecological emergency including our investment in hydrated vegetable oil will see an 80-90 per cent reduction in vehicle emissions where it is used by our waste and recycling crews.
“Despite the financial challenges facing the council due to further cuts in central government financial support for local councils after more than a decade of austerity, and with the borough rapidly expanding, it is pleasing to note that this budget has not required any reductions to services currently provided by the council and has allowed for some further investment in some of our key services such as environmental health and planning, as well as our flood response.”
The budget is based on continuing current council services and the council plan. As the council continues to work with neighbouring councils in light of the upcoming local government reorganisation, the budget will be reviewed, ensuring resources and funding meet its needs and prepare for the formation of a new unitary authority.