Residents of Tewkesbury will face a 3.34% increase in their council tax for borough services starting April, keeping Tewkesbury among the lowest council tax rates in the country.
Tewkesbury Borough Council has approved a net budget of nearly £14 million for the upcoming financial year. This increase means that owners of band D properties will see their annual charge for borough council services rise by £5 to £154.36.
It’s important to note that the total council tax bill for households will be higher once charges from Gloucestershire County Council, police, and parish councils are included, where applicable.
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Stewart Dove, the council’s finance and asset management lead member (Churchdown St John’s), presented the budget at a recent meeting. He noted the government’s mixed signals on the 2026/27 financial settlement, emphasizing that councils were expected to keep increases to a maximum of £5 or 2.99%.
“Final outcomes are somewhat better than initially feared, but not as generous as hoped,” said Dove. He added that rural district councils like Tewkesbury continue to be deprioritized compared to metropolitan unitary authorities, which appear to receive larger shares of funding.
Council leader Richard Stanley (Liberal Democrat, Cleeve West) expressed pride in leading a financially stable authority, emphasizing the importance of not taking that stability for granted.
During the meeting, Reform UK Councillor Graham Bocking (Northway) proposed freezing council tax and covering budget shortfalls by using reserves. This motion, seconded by Independent Councillor Mike Sztymiak (Tewkesbury North and Twyning), was criticized for effectively cutting public services. Sztymiak highlighted a £50,000 reduction in grass cutting services despite the council increasing its reserves by over £1 million.
Green Party Councillor Matt Dimond-Brown (Tewkesbury South) warned that the freeze could lead the council to become “dishonest” with residents. He reminded the chamber that Tewkesbury has consistently ranked among the lowest council tax areas nationally, but limited revenue is now affecting the quality of statutory services.
“We risk misleading the public by prioritizing political grandstanding over sustainable service delivery,” Dimond-Brown said, explaining his opposition to the amendment.
Deputy leader Sarah Hands (Liberal Democrat, Innsworth) reinforced these concerns, noting that the borough council’s tax rate remains approximately £90 below the national average for similar services. She described the proposed tax freeze as populist and pointed out that the councillor behind the amendment had supported annual £5 increases during his previous five years in administration.
Conservative Councillor Jim Mason (Winchcombe) labeled the historic decision to keep council tax low and return funds to residents as “sheer folly.” He pointed to past struggles with funding and suggested that only a move to a unitary authority structure could resolve Tewkesbury’s financial challenges.
Ultimately, the amendment to freeze council tax was defeated by 27 votes to 5.
The council’s original budget proposal, including the 3.34% increase, was approved by 27 votes in favor, 4 against, and one abstention.