Council tax hike approved for East Riding residents

'WE UNFORTUNATELY CANNOT DELIVER THE PRIORITIES WITHOUT INCREASE'

- By ANDREW SPENCE

COUNCILLORS have approved East Riding Council's 2026/27 budget at a meeting held on February 5. The budget includes a 4.99% council tax increase for residents.

Much of the discussion surrounding the coming year's budget was centered around the Government's recent Fair Funding Settlement which has altered councils’ funding levels. From 2026/27, the implementation of the Fair Funding Review means a permanent reduction in the council’s annual funding, with an overall loss of nearly £62m over three years, £9.2m in 2026/27, £20.3m in 2027/28, and £32.2m by 2028/29.

The council’s finance portfolio holder, Cllr Nigel Wilkinson (Conservative) delivered the Budget for the coming year. He explained the council has been able to produce a balanced budget despite being “in a level of financial challenge and uncertainty, not previously experienced in recent years.”

Council house rents will increase by 4.8%, in line with government guidance of CPI inflation (3.8% in September 2025) plus 1%. This will lead to an increase of £4.81 per week for an average social rent, Cllr Wilkinson told the chamber.