On 26 February 2026, Hampshire County Council approved a 4.99 per cent increase in its share of council tax to protect local services and manage a 143 million pound funding gap. Residents in Fleet, Hampshire, will see this change take effect from April 2026, with the council using the extra money to safeguard adult social care, school transport, and road repairs.
For a standard Band D home, the county council’s portion of the bill will increase by 1.54 pounds per week to reach a total of 1,690.11 pounds for the year. Council leader Nick Adams-King said the decision was carefully considered to protect services while avoiding the need for a local public vote on the matter.
A specific 2 per cent of the total increase is set aside for adult social care to help the council manage the rising cost of supporting an ageing population. Households in the town will also face a separate 2.99 per cent increase recommended by Hart District Council, which manages the local billing process for the area.
People on low incomes are being advised to contact the district council to see if they qualify for any council tax support schemes to help with the cost. The council also agreed to spend 971 million pounds on community improvements over the next three years, including 178 million pounds for fixing roads and bridges and 187 million pounds for local school buildings.
