North Northamptonshire Council executive approves draft budget for 2026/27, including maximum council tax rise

North Northamptonshire Council’s (NNC) executive has approved the draft budget for 2026/27, which includes a proposed council tax rise of 4.99 per cent.

The financial plans will now go out for consultation over the next six weeks, before the final budget will go to full council for approval in the new year.

Speaking at the executive meeting on Tuesday (December 16), local resident and former Labour councillor Lyn Buckingham said: “Adult social care is facing rising demand, inflation and workforce pressures, yet the plan relies on efficiency savings, increased client contributions and strength-based practice to cope.

“In reality, that means people feel the impact first and the council pays later through crisis care, delayed discharges and safeguarding costs.

“Then there are low-income working households and a 4.99 per cent council tax increase may be awful, but it lands alongside rising fees and charges.

“Whilst council tax support is protected, many households just above the threshold will take the hit directly.”

The proposed £431m budget for 2026/27 will be used to provide a range of services across the area, including care for vulnerable adults and children, collection and disposal of waste, highways maintenance, housing and support for those who are homeless.

The maximum council tax rise will see the bill for a Band D property in North Northants rise by £91.17 for the year to £1,918.23.

Fees and charges for the next financial year have also been reviewed and will include a potential increase in leisure fees and the annual charge for the council’s garden waste service from £50 to £62.

However, finance executive member Cllr Graham Cheatley highlighted the fact that NNC’s council tax levels are in the lower half of unitary councils nationally, based on the average amount residents pay.

He added: “This is a serious and realistic financial plan produced in a very challenging national context. It does not rely on optimism or unconfirmed government funding, but it sets out the position as it genuinely is.”

Cllr Kirk Harrison, executive member for regulatory services, also said that the authority had been hindered by the government building an assumption into its national funding model that all councils will apply the maximum increase to council tax.

He said: “It’s the latest example of central government placing increased demand on local government while refusing to provide the funding to meet them.”

At the time of the draft budget’s publication, the council was still waiting to receive the full details of its financial settlement from government and had been using indicative figures to plan the 2026/27 finances.

Addressing the chamber, leader of NNC, Cllr Martin Griffiths, said that the funding they receive from government is ‘likely to be one of the worst of all county unitary councils’.

He added that the council was still ‘completely underfunded’ for its statutory services, including children and adults’ social care. He also highlighted the impact of government demanding more of local business rates.

Cllr Griffiths said: “Fair funding was the opportunity for the government to distribute funding based on the actual need of our communities rather than historic allocations.

"For our council, it was the chance for government to review our data, our growth and our need and fund us accordingly.

“We are deeply disappointed that, despite early indications that our council funding would support us to be financially sustainable, our funding is likely to be one of the worst of all county unitary councils, as a result of recent changes to the funding formula.

“The latest change moved funding from rural areas, such as ours, to metropolitan areas. If government do not fund us correctly, our residents will pay either through reduced services or through increased council tax.”