Council tax figures highlight continued funding pressures on councils in deprived areas

Posted on March 27, 2026

As council tax figures for 2026–27 show households in deprived areas still face some of the highest bills, our Chair, Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton, spoke to The Independent about the ongoing funding pressures facing councils in these areas.

Council tax levels continue to vary sharply by region, with households in metropolitan areas across the North and Midlands facing an average Band D bill of £2,409, compared with £2,068 in London boroughs.

Whilst welcoming the "transformative" impact of the Fair Funding Review, our Chair warned that councils serving some of the most deprived communities continue to face the most severe financial pressures:

“Rising demand for services, particularly adult and children’s social care, alongside sustained increases in energy costs, inflation and other day‑to‑day running costs, means councils are under intense pressure simply to maintain vital services.

“Councils do not take the decision to raise council tax lightly but for many it is not a choice but a necessity in order to continue providing the services people rely on every day and to protect our most vulnerable residents.”

You can read the full article in The Independent here.