Residents in Stoke-on-Trent are set to face another inflation-busting council tax rise.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is proposing a 4.99 per cent council tax increase as part of its budget proposals for 2026/27.

This is the largest increase possible without a referendum and includes a ringfenced two per cent social care precept.

Council leaders say that a 4.99 per cent rise has been 'typical' among local councils in England in recent years, as authorities have come under increasing financial pressure.

They also point out that Stoke-on-Trent currently has the fifth lowest average council tax bill in the country, and the lowest in Staffordshire.

The proposed hike will see the amount paid to the city council by Band A properties – which account for 59 per cent of homes in the city – increase from £1,132.67 to £1,189.19.

The city council element for an 'average' Band D property will go up from £1,699 to £1,783.78.

Residents in Stoke-on-Trent also pay police and fire council tax precepts, which are set separately by Staffordshire Commissioner Ben Adams.

The council's budget proposals also include a request for a further £10.5 million in 'exceptional financial support' and £9.8 million of 'non-consult savings' affecting back office functions.

And there is increased funding for environmental enforcement and the council's empty homes team.

This is the first budget since the government's fair funding review, which resulted in the council's core spending power increase by 5.4 per cent, compared to a national average of 5.7 per cent.

But the council says it is still under significant financial pressure, largely due to increased spending on children's social care. The amount spent on private sector placements for children in care has gone up from £95 million to £122 million over the last two years.

The city council's increase in spending power equates to extra funding of £18.4 million in 2026/27, but this includes the money raised through the tax hike. Once the tax increase and other adjustments are taken into account, the increase is just £8.9 million.

Council leader Jane Ashworth said: "The fair funding review is a vast improvement on the previous 14 years of austerity. It's a large step in the right direction.

"It begins to undo the damage of those Conservative years when resources were directed more to leafy shires and away from cities like ours. So it is a massive improvement.

"We knew it was never going to be a silver bullet, but we knew it was going to be the start of improving the situation.

"The funding review is still in the consultation phase, and there are a couple of issues we want to talk to the government about."

Public consultation on the draft budget will run until February 9.

Residents can have their say by visiting the Stoke-on-Trent City Council website here.

They can also write to Budget 2026, c/o Executive Assistant to the Corporate Director of Resources (S151 Officer), Civic Centre, Glebe Street, Stoke ST4 1HH.