Bristol City Council to raise tax by 4.99%

Council tax bills in Bristol are set to rise by 4.99% after the council approved its budget for 2026-27.

The Green-led authority said the hike - which includes a 2.99% rise in core spending and a further 2% for adult social care - would add almost £130 to the annual bill for a Band D home.

The council's spending plans total £634million for day-to-day services and £232million of capital investments in large projects and city infrastructure, such as houses, bridges and schools.

The rise was passed by 42 to 26 votes, with the Lib Dems in favour and Labour and the Conservatives against, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"Whilst we continue to face the challenges of rising need and greater cost to deliver our services, we are using the resources we have available to enable every resident to be safe and well, and to thrive in a city they love to call home", said council leader Tony Dyer.

It means Band B households will pay an extra £100.94, making their annual bill £2,110.64.

The budget included nearly £41million in savings to balance the books, but also a series of U-turns announced in January, including £270,000 towards reopening public toilets and scrapping cuts to cultural groups.

"Our investment plans prioritise the day-to-day services our city relies on – bin collections, road maintenance, street cleansing – and invest to secure high-quality social care services and support our schools to deliver a high standard of inclusive education", Dyer added.

Labour group leader Cllr Tom Renhard said the other parties should be thanking the government for "saving our bacon" with the increase in the council's core spending power and the introduction of multi-year settlements.

Lib Dem group leader Cllr Jos Clark said: "We must find £40million in savings next year rising to £70m in 2030-2031 just to balance our books."

Conservative group leader Cllr Mark Weston told the meeting: "We're not seeing enough spent on road maintenance, parks maintenance, community investment, fixing potholes."

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