Hampshire County Council voted on 26 February 2026 to increase council tax by 4.99 per cent to help fund essential services across the region. Residents in Fleet, Hampshire, will see their bills rise starting from April 2026. This change is intended to help the local authority manage “unprecedented” financial pressures, particularly the rising costs of adult and children’s social care.
For a typical Band D home, the county council’s portion of the bill will go up by £1.54 each week. This brings the total annual cost for the county’s services to £1,690.11 for these households. Two per cent of the total increase is specifically set aside as a precept for adult social care to support older people and vulnerable residents.
This rise comes as Hart District Council also proposed a 2.99 per cent increase for its part of the tax bill. Council leader Cllr Nick Adams-King described the decision as a difficult but necessary step to protect people at risk of harm. The council is currently facing financial pressure due to inflation and the rising costs of providing services it is required by law to provide.
Despite the higher costs for households, the budget includes money for building and expansion projects in the local area. This includes providing more spaces and support for children with special educational needs at Fleet Infant School and Velmead Junior School. These expansions are part of a wider plan to improve education facilities for families in the community.
Plans for a new primary school in Hartland Village are also continuing to move forward. While the school was originally expected to open sooner, the official opening date has been moved to September 2027. The school will initially provide space for an intake of 30 students to serve the growing neighbourhood, eventually expanding to 420 pupils.
