Darlington council criticised for proposed 5% council tax rise

The Labour and Liberal Democrat administration in charge of Darlington Borough Council has come under fire from rival politicians after plans to increase council tax by around 5% were revealed. 

Council leaders said the proposed council tax increase of 2.99%, plus a social care precept of 2% will help fund rising demands in adult and children’s care services. 

But Jonathan Dulston, leader of the local Conservative Party, said the latest rise will add further strain on residents’ reduced finances.

He said: “Darlington deserves better than broken promises and maximum tax rises. It deserves leadership that understands how hard life has become and actually does something about it.”

During the 2023 local election campaign, Keir Starmer pledged to use an extended windfall tax to freeze council tax for one year. The party’s pledge was supported by Darlington Labour on social media ahead of the May vote.

Although the party agreed a coalition deal with the Liberal Democrats to take control of Darlington Borough Council, council tax was not frozen and increased by 4.99% in 2024. A further increase was approved in 2025. 

Cllr Dulston, formerly leader of the council, added: “At a time when families are struggling to pay bills, Labour’s answer has been simple: charge residents more. No meaningful cost-of-living plan. No real relief. Just excuses and finger-pointing at the past.

“People are tired of it. Blaming previous administrations doesn’t lower bills, and it doesn’t put food on the table. After years in control, Labour owns the decisions, and residents are paying the price.

“The reality is clear: people feel worse off under Labour, both nationally and here in Darlington. Higher council tax, higher costs, and no clear plan for the future.”

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. 

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.

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.”