'We just can't afford it!' Bradford councillor hits out at 'appalling' hike as council tax to rise to maximum

The criticism comes amid new research showing significant regional disparities in council tax rates across England and Wales.

Households in the North East will pay nearly a fifth (18 per cent) more in council tax than those in Greater London, according to a study by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (Cipfa).

She added: "What you're not taking account of when you when she says that the council tax levels might be slightly lower here than nationally, but actually income levels are lower here.

"So actually it's a relatively even playing field when you look people cannot afford it. There's a very small amount of support for the very lowest income earners, but it's the people who fall outside of that.

"I have a resident here in this area who contacted me. She's a pensioner.

"She pays 25 per cent of her income on council tax, and she's lost a winter fuel allowance as well on top of that. And she just cannot afford to pay the increase."

In Bradford, the Labour-run council submitted a bid to increase bills by 14.99 per cent in 2025-26

Getty

Britons in the North East pay £444 more annually than their London counterparts. The average band D property in the North East faces an annual council tax charge of £2,425.

Meanwhile, Greater London has the lowest average bills at £1,981. London council taxpayers will also see the lowest monetary increase in bills of £88.90.

The Government has allowed six councils to increase council tax above the referendum threshold this year.

These include Bradford, Newham, Windsor and Maidenhead, Birmingham, Somerset and Trafford.

Officials justified these exceptional increases by stating these councils have low levels of council tax.

With growing demand for support and overall reductions in funding, Cipfa warned that council tax rises will not be sufficient to maintain services.