A higher council tax increase is being explored in Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole to help prevent services failing and avoid potential government intervention.
BCP Council has applied to government for permission to raise council tax by up to 7.4 percent in 2026, above the current 4.99 percent limit, after being asked to consider flexibility as it faces significant financial pressures and a forecast overspend of £4.2million in its 2025/26 budget.
If council tax rose by the existing maximum of 4.99 percent in 2026/27, residents would pay £1,947.99, which the council says remains below the assumed national average of £2,060 now being estimated by government, with any higher increase limited to an additional 2.4 percent.
The latest medium term financial plan warns of what it describes as an existential threat to the council’s financial sustainability, with proposals expected to be published in January ahead of Cabinet and Full Council, although the February 2026 Cabinet meeting may be deferred while funding details are clarified.
Councillor John Beesley said the proposed approach risked bypassing local democracy, adding that residents were already facing inflation busting increases and further pressures from new local precepts, while questioning the council’s spending priorities.
Responding, Councillor Mike Cox said all options were being examined to recover from what he described as reckless decisions by previous administrations, stating that the scale of potential cuts being considered was beyond brutal.
Council Leader Councillor Millie Earl said government had asked councils to explore flexibility and stressed that no final decision had been taken, adding that any increase would still leave BCP below the national average and that the impact on residents would be carefully considered.
Bournemouth East MP Tom Hayes said finances needed stabilising after years of underfunding, arguing that exceptional financial support was required despite increases in spending power, and called for cooperation in the interests of residents.
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