Council tax bills in Bracknell Forest are set to rise by nearly five per cent from April – an increase of at least £76 a year for mid-valued homes.

Leaders of Bracknell Forest Council have agreed to recommend an increase of 4.99 percent. That’s the maximum amount the government will allow without giving residents a vote.

Councillor Kathryn Neil – in charge of finance – said the increase is ‘the only realistic option’ open to the cash-strapped council to protect services to residents.

It comes as councils across Britain are struggling to make ends meets as costs – particularly in social care – are rising.

READ MORE: plans to double council tax on empty homes

Councillor Neil said: “We have been open with residents about the difficult choices we face by recognising the financial realities that local authorities are facing.

“With an eye to the future and in line with almost all local authorities in England we are proposing the maximum permitted 4.99 per cent increase to council tax.

“We know this will not be popular but it is the only realistic option if we are to protect our services into the future – especially social care services that our vulnerable people rely on.”

Councillor Neil also said she would call on the government to increase its funding to councils. But she said Bracknell Forest Council would have to show it was doing everything it could to meet its costs itself.

She said: “Council tax is the only income source entirely in the council’s control and whilst we will continue to lobby central government for more grant funding our case for that is weakened if we don’t take full advantage of permitted council tax increases locally.”

How much will I have to pay?

The approved increase is only the portion of council tax that residents will pay to Bracknell Forest Council. It doesn't include charges by Thames Valley Police, the fire service or town and parish councils - so it is less than the full amount that will appear on your council tax bill.

The basic amount of council tax charged to a home is based on how much the property has been valued at. They range from Band A – the lowest banded property – to band H, the highest.

The proposed increase means that the average mid-level ‘band D’ home will pay £76.77 more to Bracknell Forest Council from April. Bracknell Forest Council currently charges Band D homes £1,539.36 a year. This looks set to rise to £1,616.13.

However the full amount will be even more as the police, the fire authority and town and parish councils each charge their own ‘precepts.’

Thames Valley Police has already decided to raise its charge by 5.1 per cent. That's £269.28 a year for band D properties, up from £256.28.

And Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service looks set to increase its charge by 2.99 per cent. That's £81.31 a week for band D properties, up from £78.95.

But charges set by town and parish councils have yet to be decided – meaning that the increase will be even more.

The full charges for residents in each of the towns and parishes will be reported to a full meeting of Bracknell Forest Council on February 21.

Councillors there will then vote on whether to approve leaders’ recommendation to increase council tax by 4.99 per cent along with the rest of the budget for 2024-25.