New Forest District Council residents’ full council tax amounts for 2025-26 revealed
NEW Forest residents are set to for a total hike of 5% in their council tax from April after the district council raised its share by the maximum allowed.
At a meeting of the Conservative-run New Forest District Council yesterday, members approved a hike in its share of the total bill by 2.99%, up to £205.77 – an increase of £5.98 per year.
This means a band-D property – the average home for the area – will pay a total bill of £2,303.37 for the year. Overall this is a 5% hike of the total bill, which is an extra £109.67 for a band-D home.
The council tax bill also includes charges from the county, town or parish councils, plus the police and fire services.
Hampshire County Council upped its portion by 4.99%, a rise of £76.59, while the police and crime commissioner for Hampshire made a 5.35% increase. This amounts to £14 extra per year.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service asked for a 6.03% increase, £5 extra per year, while town and parish councils increased their precepts by an average of 7.38%, an increase for a band D home of £8.56.
NFDC leader Cllr Jill Cleary said: “We have proposed an increase to the precept of £5.98 for the year – a precept amount which often gets lost amongst the overall bill.
“The bill also includes the precept from the county council, the police and crime commissioner, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire Rescue service, and the local town and parish councils.
“We can only control our part [which] represents excellent value.”
An alternative budget was put forward by the leader of the Lib Dem opposition, Cllr Malcolm Wade, which was not carried. While it offered the same level of precept increase, it proposed spending £500,000 over two years aimed at reducing child poverty across the district, considering the installation of solar panels in car parks to subsidise parking charges, and offering enhanced support for businesses, including the development of digital infrastructure and flexible workspaces.
Cllr Wade said: “Our district is facing the most significant governance shift in a generation. If we do not take decisive action now, we risk having our priorities overlooked. This budget is not just a response to the present – it is a plan to secure the future for our residents.”
Cllr David Harrison agreed, urging Conservative councillors: “This is your last chance to do something different, to recognise there are Liberal Dem proposals you can support.”
Members voted in favour of the Conservative proposal to increase its council tax precept by 2.99% with 41 votes and one abstention.
New Forest band-D full council tax breakdown by town and village
ASHURST & COLBURY – £2,240.15
BEAULIEU – £2,214.85
BOLDRE – £2,213.62
BRAMSHAW – £2,210.56
BRANSGORE – £2,301.04
BREAMORE – £2,208.29
BROCKENHURST – £2,256.06
BURLEY – £2,207.15
COPYTHORNE – £2,201.83
DAMERHAM – £2,226.55
DENNY LODGE – £2,220.67
EAST BOLDRE – £2,223.82
ELLINGHAM HARBRIDGE & IBSLEY – £2,222.70
EXBURY & LEPE – £2,178.90
FAWLEY – £2,348.21
FORDINGBRIDGE – £2,322.87
GODSHILL – £2,238.75
HALE – £2,231.22
HORDLE – £2,253.33
HYDE – £2,209.62
HYTHE & DIBDEN – £2,341.33
LYMINGTON & PENNINGTON – £2,321.80
LYNDHURST – £2,261.80
MARCHWOOD – £2,346.70
MARTIN – £2,238.15
MILFORD-ON-SEA – £2,257.87
MINSTEAD – £2,222.39
NETLEY MARSH – £2,222.05
NEW MILTON – £2,310.80
RINGWOOD – £2,303.03
ROCKBOURNE – £2,269.50
SANDLEHEATH – £2,213.62
SOPLEY – £2,271.84
SWAY – £2,243.58
TOTTON & ELING – £2,356.62
WHITSBURY – £2,199.44
WOODGREEN – £2,221.58
