Durham County Council in County Durham has set out its final budget proposals for the 2026/27 year, which include a recommended council tax increase to support essential services such as social care and highways maintenance. The council published the final proposals on February 3, 2026.
The council is recommending a 3.1% rise in council tax, to take effect from April 1, 2026, which it says is needed to help balance next year’s budget and protect vulnerable children and older residents amid rising demand and costs. The council’s published position says the proposed package would close a £9.546 million deficit for 2026/27. The Local Government Association has also warned that many councils across the country face similar financial pressures this year.
To balance the books, the council’s proposals set out £15.719 million of identified savings overall, with around £12.914 million expected to be delivered in 2026/27; these include efficiency and service-delivery changes that could affect how some services are provided, including waste collection arrangements. The council’s MTFP materials and other local briefings have previously flagged energy-efficiency measures (including previously-discussed solar schemes) as one strand of longer-term savings, but the council’s February 3 press release does not list a specific solar farm drawdown as a guaranteed 2026/27 saving.
Cabinet members will review the proposals when they meet on 11 February 2026, and the council has scheduled a full council meeting to consider final approval on 18 February 2026. Residents have been invited to take part in consultations on budget priorities, which the council says include maintaining local roads and supporting social care.
“This budget has been built on a commitment to making the council an effective, efficient servant of the people while ensuring taxpayers’ money is spent wisely and well,” said Cllr Darren Grimes, Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for finance, in the council’s press release.
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