Might it be time to look at some alternatives to increasing council tax?

The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s (CIPFA) annual council tax survey, alongside the Government’s data, consistently provides a useful window into how the local government finance system is operating.

For 2026-27, the average Band D council tax across England and Wales will rise by 4.9% to £2,348, again outpacing inflation. Every region is now issuing Band D bills in excess of £2,000, underlining how central this tax has become to local public finances.