COUNCIL Tax looks set to rise in Solihull from April by 4.99 per cent.
Council chiefs are recommending a budget for 2026/27 of £244.357 million which will inject vital funding into social care, children’s services and public health.
If approved, there will be a rise of 2.99 per cent in core council tax and a further 2.0 per cent for adult social care – the most a Council can increase rates without holding a referendum or getting permission from the Exceptional Financial Support (EFS).
This means those living in a Band D property will see their bill rise to £1,843.27 if Councillors vote in favour at the Full Council meeting on February 26.
In a report released ahead of the meeting by Solihull Council leader, Councillor Karen Grinsel, said decisions were made based on financial pressures.
Her report noted: “The Council faces an extremely challenging medium-term financial outlook, driven by national funding reforms, ongoing demand pressures and structural issues within local government finance.
“The completion of the Fair Funding Review and the business rates reset has provided greater certainty over future funding levels, but this certainty confirms that funding growth for Solihull will remain constrained relative to need.
“Solihull has clearly been disadvantaged overall by the changes, especially in respect of resource equalisation, which has difficult implications for the Council’s positive work historically to keep council tax levels lower for residents than the national average.
“I note that in the provisional settlement the government exempted the six authorities with the lowest levels of council tax in the country from the referendum thresholds and I would welcome the extension of that approach to all authorities with below-average council tax levels. “
