Budget with 4.95% council tax rise agreed

CLASHES IN STOCKTON COUNCIL CHAMBER OVER PLANS

- By GARETH LIGHTFOOT Local democracy reporter

Stockton High Street; Deputy council leader Councillor Paul Rowling, Labour member for Stockton town centre, said they had to make "difficult and unavoidable choices" TERRY BLACKBURN

STOCKTON Council has voted through its budget for the next year, including a 4.95% council tax rise, after politicians clashed over whether the financial plans were "unavoidable choices" or "wishful thinking".

Labour, Conservative and independent councillors thrashed out their arguments in the council chamber as the authority's 2026-7 budget and financial plans for the next three years were debated on Wednesday night.

With the proposed council tax rise, the council is facing a £6.7m budget gap in the coming year, rising to £18m in 2028-9.

Deputy council leader Councillor Paul Rowling, Labour member for Stockton town centre, put the plans forward, saying they had to make “difficult and unavoidable choices”.

He said the council continued to be ambitious, to protect the vulnerable, support businesses and invest in all towns - and said the government was reversing unfair council funding, targeting deprivation and providing an extra £9.1m over the next three years - but the council still faced ballooning costs, pressures and demands.