5% council tax rise proposed for Darlington residents in 2026

The proposal by Darlington Borough Council means residents face paying higher bills to fund rising demands in adult and children’s social care, a committe meeting heard on Monday (January 5).

The proposed rise will raise an additional £3 million. 

However, Town Hall officials have warned that the council’s financial planning remains in a “fragile position”, with forecasted cost pressures of around £27 million over the next four years. Around £13 million worth of savings have been forecasted over the same time period. 

A proposed council tax increase of 2.99 per cent, plus a social care precept of two per cent, are among the main changes affecting residents. 

More than £59 million is currently spent on adult social care by the council, with the additional precept raising a further £1.422 million, which the council said is “crucial to meet the overall costs and pressure faced in this service area”. 

Darlington currently has the second-lowest tax rate in the North East and a low tax base with 43 per cent of properties in Band A and 78 per cent in Band A – C, meaning significantly less council tax is generated for each 1 per cent raised than in some other more affluent areas.

A council report read: “The council has faced significant financial challenges over the last decade, with substantial reductions in government funding followed by the financial instability during the pandemic, but to date has risen to these challenges well which has previously enabled a balanced MTFP.” 

In the report presented to councillors last year, council officers added: “2025 has presented further challenges with increased demand for services, particularly in social care, where complexity and costs are rising significantly.”

Despite the uncertainty, the authority said it can deliver a balanced budget if the proposed savings are approved. 

Labour’s Stephen Harker, leader of the council, said: “Thanks to a Labour-led council, and a Labour Government, the council finances are on track to be fixed – a key pledge we made when we took charge. We have looked after the pennies, cut wasteful spending, protected vital services for residents and brought to an end the kind of gimmicks that [Conservative leader] Councillor Dulston loves.”

 “The Conservatives plan would have seen Darlington Borough Council become bankrupt by now. Cllr Dulston and his Conservative friends failed to make savings when in charge of the Council, wasted money on things like changing the Council logo and still don’t understand that you can’t just keep spending more and more taxpayers’ money without consequence.”