Several Reform UK councils have unveiled plans for above-inflation council tax rises as well as reductions in investment and service cuts, prompting accusations that the party is “betraying” residents.
Four Reform-led local authorities have so far confirmed plans for inflation-busting council tax increases.
Other proposals for 2026-27 include the closure of household waste and recycling centres, cuts to winter gritting and school crossing patrol budgets, selling off cultural assets and new parking charges.
Reform controls nine English councils and leads three other minority administrations after winning power for the first time in last May’s local elections.
Ahead of the votes, several leading candidates promised the party would “cut your taxes”.
Nigel Farage’s populist outfit also pledged to root out waste in a drive inspired by Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency in the US.
But less than a year later, draft budgets show Reform-led councils are turning to tax rises, asset sales and service cuts to help balance their books.
In a statement, Reform UK said it had “inherited broken councils with extremely challenging financial positions following years of incompetent Conservative administrations”.
“Residents in Reform areas can be assured that we will not ask for a penny more than we need to,” its spokesperson added.
Derbyshire county council and West Northamptonshire council have confirmed plans for council tax increases of 5 per cent, the maximum amount before a local referendum is required.
Worcestershire county council, meanwhile, has requested ministerial permission to raise tax above that threshold in order to stave off bankruptcy.
Lincolnshire county council intends to consult on a maximum council tax rise before making a decision, while Staffordshire county council plans to raise the charge by 4 per cent.
In some areas, the proposed rises are coupled with cuts to services.
The draft budget published on Tuesday by Staffordshire county council, whose former leader Ian Cooper was expelled from Reform due to racist social media comments, outlined plans to save £21.5mn next year, rising to £36.3mn in 2028-29.
Acting leader Martin Murray said that “through careful planning and a robust consideration of our budget priorities we are focusing spending on the things that matter to our residents”.
However, Conservative group leader Philip White criticised £30,000 savings from reductions to winter gritting and nearly £50,000 from “efficiencies” in school crossing patrols. Residents would feel “betrayed”, he said.
Derbyshire county council intends to consult on the closure of a household waste and recycling centre in the Peak District town of Glossop, saving £360,000 over two years.
Carol Wood, the Reform cabinet member for net zero and environment, said the centre, which needed significant investment, was mostly used by taxpayers from other areas.
Labour councillor Damien Greenhalgh, who represents Glossop South, challenged Wood’s claim and said residents would need to make a 30-mile round trip in order to drop off waste.
In West Northamptonshire, Conservative MPs are petitioning against plans by the council to introduce parking charges in four town centres.
The council’s Liberal Democrat group leader Jonathan Harris accused Reform of not “understanding our rural towns”.
West Northamptonshire has been approached for comment.
Local authorities across England have struggled for years to keep pace with increased demand for services such as social care.
The latest settlement from central government will result in grant increases for some authorities, including some of those led by Reform.
However, this assumes councils will raise tax by the maximum 4.99 per cent and most authorities are still likely to require savings.
Reform-led Worcestershire council, which is seeking £72mn in “exceptional financial support”, said a £7mn funding increase went “nowhere near” keeping pace with the cost of social care, according to cabinet papers published on Monday.
The authority plans to cancel £11mn in investment for the upgrade of Redditch station in the West Midlands.
Lincolnshire’s draft budget includes the sale of buildings housing a seaside heritage centre and a rural community centre and cinema.
It plans to raise £16.5mn through the sale of assets over the next four years, helping to cut its borrowing requirement.
Council leader Sean Matthews said the authority had been focused on reducing waste and “driving down” debt.
“None of our executive want to increase council tax,” he said, but added that it was required to “avoid cutting services” and get the maximum government grant.
Kent county council, considered Reform’s flagship, delayed publishing its budget, which had been due on Tuesday. The council did not respond to a request for comment.
Other Reform-led councils are expected to publish their budget proposals later this month.