Council considers council tax options to safeguard essential services   

31 January 2026

Cheshire East Council’s Finance Sub-Committee has recommended that the council increases council tax by up to 9.99 per cent, subject to government approval.  

This is above the maximum council tax increase normally allowed by government each year (4.99%).   

No decision to increase council tax has been taken at this point. The request to increase council tax is one option for councillors to consider through the council’s budget setting process – and is subject to government approval and further council decisions.  

The council tax increase will now be considered by the council’s Corporate Policy Committee, which meets on 12 February.  Councillors will also consider a request for additional Exceptional Financial Support (EFS), and a range of budget proposals for savings, income and growth, and feedback from public consultation and engagement through the annual budget setting process.     

The Corporate Policy Committee will consider budget proposals in detail with a view to recommending a budget for approval at the Full Council meeting on 25 February. 

A Cheshire East Council spokesperson, said: “We understand why people are concerned about council tax and know many households are under pressure financially. We deliver over 400 services to around 398,000 residents. For a typical band D household, a 4.99% increase is around £1.81 a week.   

“A 9.99% increase doubles this to around £3.60 a week — funding services that support vulnerable children, adults with disabilities and older residents. 

“The extra 5% asked for would raise around £15.5 million to help protect essential care and safeguarding services.”