Gloucestershire residents are once again facing a series of tax and parking fee increases as the County Council opens a consultation on its proposed budget for the upcoming financial year.
This week, County Council leaders agreed to solicit public feedback on a revenue budget totaling £697.5 million, marking an increase of more than £32.37 million from the previous year. This budget funds essential services including adult and children’s social care, road maintenance, and waste management operations.
In addition to these operational costs, the council plans to allocate £216.5 million towards capital projects. Major investments include £77 million to improve junction 10 of the M5 and an extra £15 million dedicated to highways maintenance and full road resurfacing programs.
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To support these expenditures, a council tax increase of just under five percent is proposed, which would raise the council’s share of the tax on a band D property by £83.81 to a total of £1,763.46 for the 2026/27 year.
Parking fees are also set to rise, with the council aiming to generate an additional £338,000 from increased charges. On-street parking fees will be aligned with off-street parking rates over the next two years to create consistency.
Resident parking permits will revert to full pricing following the end of a temporary discount, with second permits priced at £160. Business permits will increase to £400, and second permits for businesses will cost £500. These permit fees are scheduled to rise progressively over the next three years.
Carer permits will now incur a £30 administration fee under new measures designed to ensure fair usage.
Further cost-saving measures include plans to discontinue some of the least-used supported bus services, expected to save around £100,000. The council also intends to raise an additional £450,000 by increasing charges to housing developers and utility companies working on the road network.
Colin Hay, Finance Cabinet Member (Liberal Democrat, All Saints and Oakley), acknowledged the tough financial challenges the council faces. Presenting the budget draft on December 3, Hay described a £17 million funding gap that has had to be addressed.
He noted the considerable uncertainty surrounding local government funding, highlighting ongoing delays to the Government’s Fairer Funding Review. “We’ve had some indications it may not be quite as good and fair for us as it might have been,” he said.
The current budget represents “a reset after those 20 years,” said Hay. “We’ve carefully reviewed our services and how we can enhance them moving forward.” He emphasized that the proposals remain open to revision based on community feedback and encouraged residents to share their views.
The full budget proposal is now available for public review and comment.