Find out which town in North Northamptonshire has the highest council tax bill for 2024/25

Countywide budgets and council tax rates for the 2024/25 financial year have just been approved by North Northamptonshire Council, however certain towns and villages in the authority will face paying a higher bill than others.

Oundle, a town on the county’s border with Cambridgeshire, is the most expensive place to to pay tax this year, totalling on average a combined £2,371.56.

Council tax is split between a standard rate from North Northants Council, fire and police authority precepts, and rates set by parish and town councils.

In Oundle, a Band D home will pay £1,740.22 to NNC (including a £238 adult social care precept), £306.04 to the police, £75.39 to the fire authority, and a further £249.91 to Oundle Town Council.

The county agreed to a maximum 4.99 per cent increase on council tax this year- an annual increase of £82.71.

The 2023 tax rate for Oundle was £2,267.46, meaning Band D households will have to pay an extra £104 on last year’s bills.

Council tax is an annual fee charged by local authorities to fund important services such as social care, highways, rubbish collection, and libraries.

Parish and town councils provide different services in different areas, some will run community centres or support arts and entertainment venues for example.

Oundle Town Council raised its precept by 2.5 per cent for 2024/2025.

Currently, there is no cap set by the government on the amount that parish and town councils can raise their charges by each year.

According to their website, Oundle Town Council facilitates a range of services including street lighting, the provision of street furniture, management of parks and recreation grounds, maintenance of the cemetery, organising weekly markets, and providing grants to local sports and arts organisations.

Irthlingborough and Raunds also feature at the higher end of council tax bills in North Northants.

Irthlingborough Town Council set a precept of £200 for its residents, as well as Raunds Town Council who will be charging an additional £183.55 on top of base county rates.

Oundle Town Council has been contacted for comment.