Warrington Borough Council says a final decision is yet to be made on a council tax increase for next year – but insists it is a ‘very important’ way to help fund services.

This year, residents faced a 4.98 per cent council tax increase.

The 2024-25 medium-term financial plan, draft revenue budget and capital programme were approved following a vote at the full council meeting in February.

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The budget for 2024-25 totalled £194.292 million, which included £15.9 million of savings.

Asked how much it is planning to increase council tax by next year, 2025-26, a council spokesman said: “A final decision has not yet been made on this.”

The spokesman added: “No council wants to increase council tax, but council tax is a very important way to help fund our services.

“Our day-to-day services like emptying bins and maintaining roads and parks, alongside providing care, support and protection to children, families and adults, are funded through council tax.”

On its website, the council says more than 70p of every £1 it spends goes towards things like ‘helping older people remain as happy, healthy and independent as possible’, looking after vulnerable children and ‘working hard to keep families together’, supporting people who have just been discharged from hospital, supporting residents with special educational needs and disabilities, and providing accommodation for those at risk of homelessness.