Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council tax to be raised by an average of 10p per week after 2025/26 budget approved

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council will raise its council tax by an average of 10p per week to fund its services for the next year, bringing the borough’s part of the council tax to £146.42 a year for the average household.

The council agreed upon its budget for the next financial year at a meeting on Thursday, February 27.

Key pledges as part of the approved budget include continuing the significant extra funding for council’s frontline services that were introduced in April 2024 following feedback from residents.

Council co-leader Gavin James said: “We would like to thank everyone who shared their views during our public consultation with residents telling us how important our services are to them, such as waste and recycling collections, street cleaning and maintaining our parks and open spaces.

“I am pleased that councillors have supported our plans to continue our significant additional investment in these services for the next year, building on the real difference this money is already making in our communities.”

Council initiatives to be funded over the coming year include a new extreme sports event in July “to boost activities on offer for young people”, the roll-out of food waste collections, the provision of more electric vehicle chargers and continued work to provide housing advice for residents looking for a home.

Mr James added: “As well as investment in our high-quality services, our capital budget for the next year includes over £27m of funding for improvements to facilities that are important to our residents, such as parks and play areas, and delivering on our key priorities.”

Some of these capital projects include replacing the Basingstoke Aquadrome with a new modern water and leisure complex, building more affordable homes within the borough and action to make Basingstoke and Deane a net zero borough by 2030.

Alongside the council tax hike, the charges for additional services Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council provides will increase by an average of three per cent, with the council stating that some charges will increase by more than this to bring fees in line with the cost to deliver these services and the fees charged by other councils and local providers.