A Leicestershire council has approved the highest level of council tax for its residents. Blaby District Council approved an increase of the highest possible amount -2.99 per cent - from April.

The increase equates to an extra £5.65 a year for the average Band D property for the 2025/26 financial year. The increase applies to the Conservative-run district council's portion of the bill only. The overall cost of the tax will also include charges for services provided by Leicestershire County Council, police, fire and parish councils.

Speaking during the meeting at which the increase was approved, Councillor Maggie Wright said: "We acknowledge that the current economic situation is creating significant additional pressures for our residents, which makes the decision to increase council tax as difficult as ever. However, if we are to maintain and provide services and protect our vulnerable residents, we are faced with little alternative but to recommend an increase in Blaby's share of the council tax.

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"The cumulative impact of not increasing council tax over the next five years is a loss in budget of 3.1 million. Raising council tax is never an easy decision, and this year is no easier, knowing that many of our residents are continuing to feel the effects of rising costs. However, to reassure members, the council tax holds the £325,000 in the hardship reserve, which we can use to support those residents most in need."

At the meeting, Liberal Democrat councillor Luke Cousin proposed an amendment to lower the council tax increase to 1.29 per cent. He argued that the then proposed maximum rise would put an additional £112,000 into the council's reserves.

In response, Labour councillor Nick Brown said: "You need to go to the cap, you need to go to the limit because you don't know what's going to happen next year [...]. But clearly we have a duty and responsibility to ensure that the services this council provides, which are, I think everybody would acknowledge, vital and fundamental to the well-being of our community, that that funding is there." The proposal was rejected.

On his Facebook page after the meeting, Liberal Democrat councillor Paul Hartshorn said: "Unfortunately, the Conservatives, Labour, and the Greens all voted against our amendment, meaning the maximum increase was approved, thus hitting you harder in the pocket from April.

"Since the council tax increase was going ahead regardless, we then proposed that this extra £112,000 be earmarked to support homeless people in our community [...]. Labour backed us, but the Conservatives and Greens voted it down, meaning this was lost."

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