Harrogate Town Council Approves Ambitious Yet Responsible Budget For 2026/27

8 Jan

Written By Martin Mann | HDCC Chief Executive

Harrogate Town Council has approved its budget and council tax precept for 2026/27, setting out a confident and community-focused plan for the next phase of the council’s development.

The Town Council was formally established in April 2025, with its first elections held in May 2025. The initial 2025/26 budget was set by North Yorkshire Council and deliberately kept to a minimum, allowing the new authority time to establish itself and develop its priorities.

Over the past nine months, councillors have completed a comprehensive strategic planning process, resulting in the adoption of a Vision and Values statement and a detailed Action Plan outlining the council’s objectives for the next 18 months and beyond. The 2026/27 budget is the first to be fully set by Harrogate Town Council and provides realistic and sustainable funding to begin delivering those priorities.

The Mayor of Harrogate, Councillor Chris Aldred, has said:

“This is a landmark moment for Harrogate Town Council. Our first year was about laying solid foundations; this budget enables us to begin delivering visible benefits for residents while remaining financially responsible and focused on the town’s long-term future.”

The approved precept for 2026/27 is £740,639, which equates to an annual charge of £26 per Band D household. This remains significantly below the 2025/26 national average Band D precept of £92.22 and means Harrogate Town Council continues to have the lowest Band D charge of any precepting town council in North Yorkshire.

The approved budget supports investment in community events, improvements to allotments, grants to local voluntary and community organisations, partnership working, youth provision, civic responsibilities and progress toward securing permanent council offices. These proposals reflect both the Council’s ambitions and the strong financial management demonstrated during its first year.

Councillor Paula Stott, Chair of the Finance and General Purposes Committee, said:

“Our very first operational budget is both thoughtful and prudent and will deliver positive outcomes for Harrogate citizens. It's important to understand that although the precept is just over a 100% increase on last year's very low, interim budget, its cost to Band D ratepayers is significantly below the national average. Also, after our increase, Harrogate will still have the lowest precept rate per household of any Town Council in North Yorkshire.”

As part of the budget-setting process, councillors agreed to set a budget which includes a planned transfer from general reserves. This decision allows the council to utilise a proportion of its forecast underspend from 2025/26 to fund priorities in 2026/27, rather than passing the full cost on to residents.

Using part of the first-year underspend is a sensible and transparent decision, allowing the council to deliver on its priorities and keep the impact on residents low, while continuing to build sustainable reserves for the future.

The Mayor adds:

“Even with our first full budget now in place, Harrogate residents continue to pay less than households in comparable towns. This budget provides excellent value for money, with investment focused on local priorities and services that matter to our community.”

The 2026/27 budget and precept will come into effect on 1 April 2026 and underpins delivery of the Council’s mission to provide local leadership that is responsive, ambitious and rooted in community partnerships — delivering high-quality services, promoting wellbeing and shaping a town where all residents, business and visitors can flourish.

What is a council precept?

All local councils are required to set a budget each year. The precept is the difference between the council’s planned expenditure and its predicted income from other sources (such as fees, charges, interest or grants). This amount is collected by North Yorkshire Council as part of the annual Council Tax bill and passed directly to Harrogate Town Council to fund local services and activities.

Further Information