Buckinghamshire Council has given the green light to a maximum 4.99 percent increase in council tax bills starting April, following the approval of its budget for the upcoming year. The Conservative-led council aims to achieve savings of nearly £170.7 million by 2027 through cost reduction and revenue generation, as outlined in its medium-term financial plan endorsed during a recent full council session. The comprehensive 130-page document outlines the strategies to balance the budget over the next three years. The approved tax hike comprises a 2.99 percent rise in basic council tax and an additional 2 percent for the adult social care precept. For the average Band D council taxpayer, this translates to an extra £1.69 weekly in 2024/25.
The increase comes amid considerable financial strain on the council, particularly in meeting the escalating costs and demands for critical services such as adult social care, children’s services, home-to-school transport, and temporary accommodation. Council leader Martin Tett highlighted the challenges in controlling costs in these areas and emphasized the council’s commitment to managing its finances while addressing residents’ concerns. Measures include investing in new children’s homes, promoting independent living for adults needing support, optimizing office space usage, and expanding housing and temporary accommodation units. Despite previous plans for service cuts, additional government funding has allowed the council to reinstate essential services such as litter collection and recycling center operating hours.
