If your household budget is already tight, a bigger council tax bill can be the push that turns “behind this month” into a backlog. For businesses, it can be another pressure point that changes how quickly customers pay.

What happened

Worcestershire County Council, led by Reform, was given government permission to raise council tax by up to 9% from April 2026, the largest increase in England. It is one of several councils allowed to go above the usual 5% cap, with other areas approved for rises up to 6.75% and 7.5%. The council has also applied for permission to borrow £71m to avoid effective bankruptcy.

The coverage also highlights wider local government finance pressures, including plans to clear a large share of historic SEND (special educational needs and disability) deficits that councils have built up.

 ...