Council tax in the East of England 2026/27
Across the 45 councils in the East of England, the middle Band D bill is £2,408.51 for 2026/27. The cheapest is Thurrock at £2,254.68 and the most expensive Huntingdonshire at £2,556.40.
What changed for 2026/27
The biggest rise in the East of England was in Luton (5.2%), and the smallest in Basildon (3.7%). Most English councils can raise council tax by up to 4.99% a year without a local referendum; a few were allowed more in 2026/27.
Council tax in the East of England at a glance
The East of England has 45 councils that set council tax: 39 shire districts, 6 unitary councils. 25 of them charge more than the England average Band D of £2,391.52 and 20 charge less. Across 2,888,720 homes, the most common band is C, and 35% of homes are in band A or B. 61% are below Band D, so most households pay less than the Band D figure.
In two-tier areas the district collects the bill but the county council's share is usually the biggest part, with police and fire on top. In 36 of the councils, parish or town councils add their own charge, shown on each council's page.
Every council in the East of England
| Council | Band D a year | A month (10) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Babergh | £2,341.55 | £234.16 | +4.8% |
| Basildon | £2,327.24 | £232.72 | +3.7% |
| Bedford | £2,471.74 | £247.17 | +5.1% |
| Braintree | £2,280.34 | £228.03 | +3.9% |
| Breckland | £2,443.67 | £244.37 | +4.9% |
| Brentwood | £2,258.14 | £225.81 | +4.2% |
| Broadland | £2,437.78 | £243.78 | +4.7% |
| Broxbourne | £2,306.43 | £230.64 | +4.9% |
| Cambridge | £2,467.02 | £246.70 | +4.7% |
| Castle Point | £2,318.63 | £231.86 | +4.1% |
| Central Bedfordshire | £2,516.16 | £251.62 | +5.1% |
| Chelmsford | £2,300.18 | £230.02 | +4.2% |
| Colchester | £2,282.85 | £228.29 | +4.1% |
| Dacorum | £2,408.51 | £240.85 | +5.0% |
| East Cambridgeshire | £2,485.18 | £248.52 | +4.7% |
| East Hertfordshire | £2,454.78 | £245.48 | +4.9% |
| East Suffolk | £2,334.80 | £233.48 | +5.1% |
| Epping Forest | £2,277.21 | £227.72 | +4.1% |
| Fenland | £2,537.74 | £253.77 | +4.3% |
| Great Yarmouth | £2,414.41 | £241.44 | +4.7% |
| Harlow | £2,298.69 | £229.87 | +3.7% |
| Hertsmere | £2,405.83 | £240.58 | +5.1% |
| Huntingdonshire | £2,556.40 | £255.64 | +4.8% |
| Ipswich | £2,468.25 | £246.83 | +4.7% |
| King's Lynn and West Norfolk | £2,430.13 | £243.01 | +4.8% |
| Luton | £2,439.93 | £243.99 | +5.2% |
| Maldon | £2,328.37 | £232.84 | +4.3% |
| Mid Suffolk | £2,316.88 | £231.69 | +4.9% |
| North Hertfordshire | £2,448.52 | £244.85 | +5.0% |
| North Norfolk | £2,459.93 | £245.99 | +5.1% |
| Norwich | £2,503.44 | £250.34 | +4.7% |
| Peterborough | £2,293.47 | £229.35 | +4.9% |
| Rochford | £2,363.48 | £236.35 | +4.2% |
| South Cambridgeshire | £2,536.25 | £253.63 | +5.0% |
| South Norfolk | £2,482.87 | £248.29 | +4.9% |
| Southend-on-Sea | £2,265.17 | £226.52 | +5.1% |
| St Albans | £2,419.22 | £241.92 | +4.9% |
| Stevenage | £2,391.97 | £239.20 | +4.8% |
| Tendring | £2,269.63 | £226.96 | +4.2% |
| Three Rivers | £2,422.31 | £242.23 | +5.0% |
| Thurrock | £2,254.68 | £225.47 | +5.1% |
| Uttlesford | £2,333.82 | £233.38 | +4.3% |
| Watford | £2,446.70 | £244.67 | +4.4% |
| Welwyn Hatfield | £2,452.26 | £245.23 | +5.1% |
| West Suffolk | £2,351.47 | £235.15 | +4.8% |
Questions
Which council has the lowest council tax in the East of England?
Thurrock, where Band D is £2,254.68 a year in 2026/27.
Which council has the highest council tax in the East of England?
Huntingdonshire, at £2,556.40 for Band D in 2026/27.
What is the most common council tax band in the East of England?
Band C: 26% of the 2,888,720 homes. 35% are in band A or B.
Source: Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England 2026 to 2027, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, 25 March 2026. Band D including average parish precepts.