Leeds council tax set to rise by the maximum 4.99% allowed

Leeds City Council has announced plans for a 4.99 per cent council tax increase in its final budget for 2026/27.

- by Alex Grant

The rise, the maximum allowed under current legislation, includes two per cent dedicated to adult social care costs. For a band D property in Leeds the increase equates to £90.61 for the year or £1.74 extra per week.

The council says its budget for 2026/27 will focus on improving essential and day-to-day services residents rely on, such as free bin and recycling collections, road maintenance and tackling potholes as well as cracking down on fly tipping in Leeds communities.

Underpinning the council's budget planning are the key principles of the four Leeds Ambitions around health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, supporting communities to thrive and for the city to be sustainable and resilient, tackling poverty and inequality.