South Gloucestershire Council to rise tax by 4.99%

Council tax for residents in South Gloucestershire is to rise by 4.99% after budget plans were formally approved.

The authority said it would also need to spend £20m from its reserve funds on top of the rise to balance its books, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Changes to business rates mean the council is £16m worse off than forecast.

The opposition Conservative group tried to amend the budget to get extra money spent on potholes, cleaning streets and making roads safer outside of schools, but this was voted down by the Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition group.

Instead, the extra money will be spent on social care, equalities work, community cohesion, schools and other services.

The spending plans, which run from April 2026 until March 2027, were approved on Wednesday.

Leader of the council Maggie Tyrell said: "Our costs are increasing faster than inflation, faster than government funding, and faster than it's reasonable or sustainable to raise council tax.

"Although this is a very tight budget, we're pleased to invest in areas of great importance to us."

The council said it was facing increasing elderly and disabled care costs, increased costs to support children with special educational needs, and an increasing road maintenance bill.

Leader of the Conservative group, Liz Brennan, said: "They voted to raise council tax by the full amount, increase the garden waste collection fee by a staggering 19%, increase car parking charges and cut vital flood defences."

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