New Forest residents’ full council tax amounts for 2024-25 revealed
RESIDENTS in the New Forest will see their total council tax bills hiked by almost 5% on average from April.
The total increase of 4.91% for 2024/25 equates to an extra £102.68 per year based on an average band-D property, meaning the bill for a home of this size will be £2,193.24.
At a meeting of the Conservative-run New Forest District Council on Monday, members approved a hike in its share of the total bill by 2.99%, an increase of £5.80 per year on average.
The total 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 £72.99, while the police and crime commissioner for Hampshire made a 3.98% increase. This amounts to £10 extra per year.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service asked for a 3% increase, £2.41 extra per year.
Town and parish councils increased their precepts by an average 10.99% increase for a band-D home, a hike of £11.48.
Speaking at the meeting, leader of the council, Cllr Jill Cleary, said its portion of the overall bill was £199.79 per year for a band-D property.
“[This] represents a charge of just £3.83 per week,” she said, adding: “£3.83 per week for all that this council provides I believe is exceptional value.
“Value that is only going to get better as a result of our investment in council wide transformation, striving for better services at a lower overall cost.”
An alternative budget was proposed by members of the Lib Dem opposition group which, while suggested the same council tax increase, proposed lowering the cost of district-wide parking to inflation level to “give something back to the burdened motorists”, said Cllr Malcolm Wade.
It also proposed to spend £500,000 on reducing child poverty and £300,000 on a feasibility service to look at introducing ACSOs to combat crime.
Cllr Wade said the Conservative budget showed the administration had “learned nothing” over the past two decades.
Fellow Lib Dem, Cllr Caroline Rackham, said she was “shocked” by the council’s lack of empathy towards residents who were struggling.
“There are an extra 300 children living in poverty and the use of food banks is higher than before.
“That £3.83 per week is actually almost £200 per year.”
Residents who have difficulty paying their council tax bill can contact NFDC for support by calling 01590 646 111 or emailing counciltax@nfdc.gov.uk
New Forest band-D full council tax breakdown by town and village
Ashurst & Colbury – £2,137.87
Beaulieu – £2,114.52
Boldre – £2,108.62
Bramshaw – £2,106.93
Bransgore – £2,186.76
Breamore – £2,107.30
Brockenhurst – £2,148.12
Burley – £2,101.49
Copythorne – £2,099.23
Damerham – £2,122.75
Denny Lodge – £2,115.97
East Boldre – £2,120.25
Ellingham Harbridge & Ibsley – £2,115.30
Exbury & Lepe – 2,077.33
Fawley – £2,232.61
Fordingbridge – £2,215.95
Godshill – £2,136.86
Hale – £2,128.51
Hordle – £2,147.99
Hyde – £2,108.88
Hythe & Dibden – £2,230.73
Lymington & Pennington – £2,207.84
Lyndhurst – £2,158.49
Marchwood – £2,236.09
Martin – £2,131.88
Milford-on-sea – £2,150.39
Minstead – £2,115.79
Netley Marsh – £2,104.94
New Milton – £2,202.14
Ringwood – £2,194.30
Rockbourne – £2,165.55
Sandleheath – £2,110.05
Sopley – £2,169.07
Sway – £2,131.49
Totton & Eling – £2,242.55
Whitsbury – £2,098.34
Woodgreen – £2,119.16
