Hinckley residents in Leicestershire could see one of the smallest increases to their council tax bills in 12 years under proposals from Leicestershire County Council. The council has proposed a 2.99% rise for 2026/27 to help pay for local services while aiming to keep costs low for families during the cost-of-living crisis.
If the plan is approved at full council on 18 February 2026, people in a typical Band D home will pay about £45–£50 more a year. That is lower than the near-maximum increases of around 4.99% seen in recent years and would be the smallest percentage rise the county has had in 12 years.
The council says it needs the extra money to address a projected £23 million gap in its budget and to meet rising costs in adult social care and highways maintenance. An official council spokesperson said the rise was about ‘finding the middle ground between protecting services and protecting pockets.’
While council leaders say the smaller rise offers relief, some opposition politicians questioned the move. Leicestershire Live reported opposition members warned the council would still need to use millions from its reserves to balance the books this year; BBC reporting said the council would need to draw on around £18m of reserves to plug the immediate gap.
The final decision on the tax rise will be made at a full council meeting on 18 February 2026. The total bill Hinckley households receive will also include levies set by Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council, Leicestershire Police and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service.
