Tax Up, Services Down. Another Maximum Council Tax Rise Not Ruled Out

After increasing BCP Council Tax by 6.74% this year and creating new town council precepts, the Liberal Democrat led administration has refused to rule out hitting residents with another increase of around 5% next April.

Residents across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are facing the possibility of yet another substantial Council Tax increase as BCP Council’s financial position continues to deteriorate.According to the Bournemouth Echo, Council Leader Millie Earl has refused to rule out increasing Council Tax by around 5% in 2027/28. No final decision has yet been taken but the warning comes only months after residents were hit with an exceptional 6.74% increase in BCP Council Tax higher than the usual 4.99% threshold.

For residents in Bournemouth and Poole, that increase arrived alongside entirely new town council precepts resulting from the Liberal Democrat led administration’s controversial decision to create another tier of local government. Now those same households are being prepared for the possibility of paying even more. BCP’s element of a Band D bill currently stands at £1,980.46. A further increase of approximately 5% would add another £99 a year before any increases imposed by the police, fire service or precepts from the newly created town councils. 

Taken together, this would mean BCP’s element of Council Tax rising by approximately 12% in just two years. This is happening while residents are already paying more for parking, confronting reduced or deteriorating local services and watching the Council’s projected overspend climb to around £27 million.

A “sustainable” budget that unravelled within months

When the Liberal Democrat led administration approved its 2026/27 budget, residents were assured that it was balanced, sustainable and financially responsible. Within months, that confidence had evaporated. The administration has repeatedly pointed to pressures within SEND, adult social care and children’s services. These pressures are real and serious but they were neither new nor unforeseeable.

BCP knew about its ageing population. It knew that demand for social care was increasing. It knew the number of children in care had risen sharply. It knew about the enormous accumulated SEND deficit. These challenges did not suddenly materialise after the budget was approved. A budget is supposed to account for known pressures not ignore them and then present residents with another bill when the figures fail to balance. Residents should not be the automatic bailout. 

Before asking households for another penny, the administration must explain:

• Why did the supposedly sustainable budget deteriorate so quickly?
• Which spending decisions and projects are now being reconsidered?
• What action is being taken to control costs and improve financial discipline?
• Why should residents pay more when confidence in the Council’s financial management is falling?
• Will the new town councils also increase their uncapped precepts next year?

Council Tax cannot become an annual bailout for poor budgeting. The Liberal Democrat led administration cannot continue increasing taxes, introducing new charges and blaming every financial failure on external pressures while refusing to accept responsibility for its own decisions. Residents are paying more. Many believe they are receiving less and unless the administration finally gets a grip on its finances, another maximum Council Tax rise may be heading their way next April.

Tax up. Charges up. Overspending up. When will accountability go up too?

Read the Bournemouth Echo report⁠

Written by Jo Keeling, Deputy Chair -  Political