The TaxPayers’ Alliance has accused BCP Council of ‘punishing locals’ with its new budget proposal, which planned a 4.99% rise in council tax for 2025/26.
A new report outlined how the local authority intends to increase spending on essential services, such as children’s services and waste collection.
The council blamed the rising demand and increasing costs of these services for the need to raise tax income.
Elliot Keck, head of campaigns at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Bournemouth residents will be rightly worried by this council tax hike.
“While BCP council has 17 backroom bosses earning over £100k a year, there will be questions as to whether the council is using its available funds effectively.
“Instead of punishing locals, the council should cut bureaucratic waste.”
It currently spends the equivalent of £1m per day on keeping everyday services running.
The proposal highlighted the deficiencies in the SEND system – and suggests borrowing £57.5m to resolve the cashflow problems.
Simon Bull, Vice-Chair of the council’s Children’s Services Committee, said: “It’s not something any of us want to do any more than to maintain what we’re already doing for residents and to prevent us from having to make cuts in other areas.”
Council leader, Millie Earl, said: “Like all councils, we are facing challenges as demand for our services, especially adult social care and children’s services, increases dramatically pressures on our budget increase after years of austerity, rising inflation and increasing costs.
“We have worked hard to put forward a balanced budget that provides essential services to support the most vulnerable in our society, keeps our communities clean and safe and encourages our towns to thrive and flourish.
“We have made good progress in finding savings and changing how we work to get value for money for our residents while maintaining the council’s financial health and sustainability.”
She highlighted the long-term financial impact of the transformation programme – and the decisions to find alternative funding for some services that could no longer be delivered.
These include the running of some leisure centres and the employment of community support officers.
She added: “The SEND deficit remains a serious national issue that is adding huge pressure to all council budgets, as well as ours. While I’m pleased that government have recognised this is an issue not of our own making and are working with us to find a temporary solution to next year’s cost. We are clear that the SEND system and the way it is funded needs fundamental revision to become sustainable in the long term.”
The proposal will now undergo the council’s scrutiny process.
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