Braintree District Council freezes its share of council tax to support residents with the cost-of-living crisis

The decision was approved at a Full Council meeting on Monday, 16 February with the council’s budget for 2026-27.

The freeze means that residents will see no rise in the council’s portion of council tax which represents around nine per cent of the total council tax bill.

The freeze will apply to all property bands, with the charge for a Band D property (as an example) remaining at £206.01 a year or £3.96 per week. The local council tax support scheme will also continue to assist more than 7,000 low-income households. 

Despite the freeze, there will be no cuts to services. Instead, the budget includes additional investment to strengthen support for residents and communities. Extra funding is being set aside to support a range of initiatives, including community support projects, activities that boost pride-in-place, economic development measures and improvements to the accessibility of the council’s services.

The key priorities shaping this year’s budget are outlined here:

• Over the next two years, the council is committing £400,000 to initiatives that will directly support residents with the cost-of-living crisis. This comes on top of a £1 million fund, which has delivered – and continues to deliver – a successful programme of support, funding initiatives such as community supermarkets, food banks and community fridges.
• Councillor Community Grants will continue, with funding per councillor rising from £1,250 to £1,500 enabling more support for local projects, and an extra £150,000 will go towards environmental initiatives including tree and bulb planting schemes.
• To support town centre businesses, £255,000 has been set aside for festive lights in a bid to increase footfall across the three main town centres over the next three years.
• Garden waste subscription fees will remain frozen giving residents access to a high quality and reliable service without additional cost.
• An allocation of £3.8 million will fund further investments, including playground improvements and upgrades to a facility which processes recycled materials from households across the district. This funding complements the council’s existing £17 million capital investment programme which will see a new community centre in Witham, town centre improvements and upgrades to community buildings.

This budget is achievable because of the council’s long-standing commitment to careful financial management and planning. The council recognises however that rising costs, increasing demand for services and reductions in central government funding will continue to place pressure on budgets in the medium term. To lessen the impact of this, the council is streamlining operations and identifying savings in an effort to protect services and ensure a stable financial position in the future.

More than £50m will be spent on delivering over 100 services that keep our district clean, safe and supported this financial year.

Cllr Graham Butland, Leader of Braintree District Council, said: "Freezing our share of council tax is a vital step in supporting residents at a time when many households are still grappling with the cost-of-living crisis. We know everyday essentials are taking up a larger share of people’s income and this budget ensures we are not adding to that pressure. Our priority is to give families stability and reassurance, while continuing to protect the services and community support that so many rely on."

Cllr Kevin Bowers, Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Performance at Braintree District Council, said: "This budget reflects the care we’ve taken in managing our finances over the long-term. By taking a disciplined and strategic approach, we have been able to freeze our share of council tax, maintain essential services as well as invest in the priorities that matter most to our communities. Strong financial stewardship means we can take this step with confidence, delivering support to those who need it now, while ensuring a stable financial position in the future.”