Northamptonshire villages with the highest council tax bills
Council tax is set to increase for 2024/25
County-wide budgets and council tax rates for the 2024/25 financial year were approved in February by West Northamptonshire Council, but certain towns and villages in the authority will face paying a higher bill than others. West Haddon, a village in rural West Northamptonshire, is the most expensive place to pay tax this year, totalling on average a combined £2,388.15 for each household.
Council tax is split between a standard rate from West Northamptonshire Council, fire and police authority precepts, and rates set by parish and town councils. In West Haddon, a Band D home will pay £1,773.33 to WNC (including a £240 adult social care precept), £306.04 to the police, £75.39 to the fire authority, and a further £233.39 to West Haddon Parish Council.
The county agreed to a maximum 4.99 per cent increase on council tax this year- an annual increase of £84.52. The 2023 tax rate for West Haddon was £2,277, meaning Band D households will have to pay, in total, an extra £111 on last year’s bills.
Council tax is an annual fee charged by local authorities to fund important services such as social care, highways, rubbish collection, and libraries. Parish and town councils provide different services in different areas, some will run community centres or support arts and entertainment venues for example.
West Haddon Parish Council raised its precept by 5.25 per cent for 2024/2025. Currently, there is no cap set by the government on the amount that Parish and Town Councils can raise their charges by each year.
The Parish Council has been contacted for comment. It highlighted the responsibilities listed on its website, which offers a snapshot of what services and facilities the Council has powers and obligations to provide.
These include open spaces, provision of sports facilities including the pavilion, play areas, litter picking, a skateboard park, provision of street furniture, the Festival Gardens, street lights and churchyard maintenance and cemetery management.
Nether Heyford and Moulton also feature at the higher end of council tax bills in West Northants. Nether Heyford Parish Council set a precept of £219.37 for its residents and Moulton Parish Council will be charging an additional £215.70 on top of the base county rates.