Hampshire County Council approved a 4.99 per cent increase in its portion of council tax on 26 February 2026 to help protect essential services in Basingstoke and across the county. This increase is the maximum amount allowed by the government without holding a local referendum.
For a typical Band D household, the new charge will be £1,690.11 for the year, which is an increase of about £1.54 per week. Council leaders say the extra money is needed to bridge a funding gap caused by the rising costs of adult social care and support for children.
A specific part of the increase, amounting to 2 per cent, is set aside only for adult social care to meet the growing demand for these services. The council also confirmed a large spending plan for the next three years, including £178 million for maintaining roads and bridges and £187 million for school buildings.
Local projects in the area include a new £1.35 million centre for children with special educational needs at Bramley CE Primary School, which is expected to open in September 2026. This project is part of a wider effort to improve local school facilities for vulnerable residents.
In addition to the county increase, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has proposed its own separate rise. This would likely add another 10p per week to the total bill for local households to fund borough-level services like waste collection.
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