Crunch Hartlepool Borough Council meeting will decide town's latest council tax bills
A crunch meeting is to take place to decide whether or not the bulk of Hartlepool’s council tax will remain at the current rate.
Labour-controlled Hartlepool Borough Council announced last year that its proportion of the bills – which makes up the bulk of residents’ overall bills – would be frozen for the 2026-27 financial year from April.
Yet James Magog, the council’s director of finance, IT and digital, has recommended the local authority “should seek the maximum council tax increase permissible” which is 4.99%.
Speaking at the latest meeting of the finance and corporate affairs committee, he added: “Unfortunately I cannot emphasise that recommendation strongly enough.”
The council faces an £8.012million deficit for 2026-27, which reduces to £3.74million if planned savings, which have been supported by individual policy committees, are implemented.
A council tax increase would raise an additional £2.804million which, coupled with using £936,000 of reserves, would provide a balanced budget, according to Mr Magog.
Labour’s Councillor Pamela Hargeaves, the leader of the council, said they have been lobbying the Government for more funding and there is a “feeling of disappointment” this hasn’t arrived.
She added the local authority has been doing “everything we can” but that rising social care costs are “killing the council”.
A final decision on whether of not to increase the council’s bill will be made at a full council meeting on Thursday, February 19.
Council tax bills for Hartlepool residents also feature contributions towards the Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner and Cleveland Fire Authority while people living in parish council areas also pay a parish precept.