- Households in England's most deprived metropolitan areas face an average annual Band D council tax bill of £2,409, significantly higher than London boroughs' average of £2,068.
- The average Band D council tax across England is projected to reach £2,392 for 2026/27, marking a substantial increase of £111, or 4.9 per cent, from the previous year.
- This is the fourth consecutive year that the England-wide council tax increase has averaged around 5 per cent, incorporating levies for adult social care, police, fire, and regional authorities.
- Liberal Democrat-controlled councils implemented the highest average core council tax increases at 5.17 per cent, while Labour and Conservative-led councils saw average rises of 4.79 per cent and 4.92 per cent respectively.
- Local government bodies and officials state that councils are forced to raise taxes due to intense pressure from rising demand for services, particularly social care, and increased running costs, to maintain vital provisions.
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