Swale Borough Council approves 2.96% tax increase

Swale Borough Council says Band D homes will have to pay an extra £3.97 a week

Swale Borough Council (SBC) has approved plans to increase council tax by 2.96% as part of its budget.

Councillors agreed the measures as part of its 2025/26 budget at a meeting on Wednesday.

It means Band D rate payers will be charged an additional £206.64 over the year - or £3.97 a week.

Council leader Tim Gibson said it was a "responsible" decision which will give the council "a sound financial footing to provide the quality services our residents depend on".

Mr Gibson said SBC receives less than 10% of the money collected, with the rest going to Kent County Council, the police, fire and rescue and town and parish councils.

He said the "relatively modest funding" provides a services such as helping the homeless, planning advice, bin collections, fly-tipping, street-clearing and more.

He said: "We always have our residents at the forefront of our minds, and we want to help as many people in the borough as possible, this budget will help us to do this in a financially responsible way."

The budget outlined £2.3m of savings, with other measures including increasing income from fees and charges, making savings from major contracts and finding alternative income streams.