Council tax rises for Woodley and Earley for 2026/27 have been revealed.
For 2026/27, Woodley Town Council has agreed a 9.75 council tax increase, which comes after a three-year freeze on increases. Meanwhile, Earley Town Council has agreed to a one per cent increase.
You can see how much you can expect to pay in 2026/27 in the table provided.
These council tax rises were agreed at Woodley Town Council on February 10 and Earley Town Council on February 4.
Explaining Woodley’s rise, councillor Keith Baker (Conservative, Coronation East), the leader of the council, said: “We have worked hard to keep this increase as low as possible while protecting the services, parks and community buildings that residents rely on.
“Even with more facilities to maintain than many neighbouring councils, Woodley’s Town Council Tax remains excellent value for money.”
Councillor Pauline Jorgensen (Conservative, Radstock), a representative on Earley Town Council, said: “At the full council meeting, we agreed the budget and a council tax increase set at one per cent.
“This is for a Band D property – 39p a year – a tiny rise to help maintain the services our precept pays for.”
Earley council looks after community spots including the Maiden Erlegh Nature Reserve, the Paddick Drive BMX track and Mays Lane Cemetery.
The amounts raised by the two town councils will be added to precepts from Thames Valley Police and the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, which have both been officially agreed. They will also be added to the council tax levied by Wokingham Borough Council, which has not been officially set yet.
The Liberal Democrat administration at the borough council wants to increase council tax by 4.99 per cent, of which two per cent will be ringfenced to pay for adult social care, and 2.99 per cent will go to providing the rest of the council’s services. The borough council budget is set to be decided at a full meeting on Thursday, February 26.
Stephen Conway (Liberal Democrats, Twyford, Ruscombe & Hurst) said: “We would rather not have to increase council tax by 4.99 per cent, but experience shows us the folly of relying on reserves to fund day‑to‑day services when we are one of the lowest-funded councils in the country.”
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
