Birmingham City Council has been told it can raise council tax by 7.5% this year. It is one of just six councils allowed to raise extra funds through council tax rises because of financial difficulties.

The government has approved a bespoke council tax referendum principle for the city, allowing a smaller increase of 7.5% compared to the planned 9.9% rise. | ITV News Central

Birmingham City Council has been denied permission to increase its council tax by 9.99% next year after a government request for the figure was rejected. But the authority was allowed to raise it by 7.

Plans to increase council tax by almost 10% in parts of Cheshire have been rejected by the government. Cheshire East Council had asked the government for permission to increase the charge by 9.9%. Authorities can only increase council tax by 4.

A PLANNED Council Tax rise of almost 10 per cent has been branded as “shameful” and “simply disgraceful” by opposition Councillors.

The Labour-run council had submitted a bid to increase bills by almost 15% in 2025-26 but was only given consent for a 9.9% hike. The council said the proposed rise - which will be put to councillors next month - would reduce required borrowing costs "by about £5.