What Council Tax pays for

Council Tax has increased by 2.96% on average across all Chelmsford residents. That is £6.55 for a property in Band D (less than 13p per week).

Some areas will see a larger increase while other areas will see a smaller increase, or a decrease.

We share out costs known as 'special expenses' across the city. This depends on whether parish councils provide the same services that we do.

If a parish council provides the same services that we do, that part of the city is not charged for those items. This means that residents aren't taxed at both parish and city level for the same service.

The pattern of increases and decreases is due to changes in the way we calculate special expenses. We review the special expenses figures each year to make sure the changes reflect the costs, so we share out Council Tax fairly.

The amount we charge each resident will depend on:

• the services and functions provided by the parish council in your area (if there is one), and
• the services and functions we perform for residents

We charge Council Tax through general expenses and special expenses.

General expenses are the majority of the charge and is evenly charged across all taxpayers.

Special expenses are charged to a specific parish or unparished area where that area benefits from the services provided.

If a parish council provides a service that we also provide, our expenditure is a special expense.

If the parish provides the service, this is charged for as part of their parish precept. The precept is the parish council's share of the council tax.

Special expenses make sure taxpayers in the areas which provide the services and charge for them though their parish precepts, don't get taxed twice for the same type of expenditure.

For example, we maintain play areas across the city, but some parishes also maintain play areas separately from us. Therefore, a parish council that maintains a play area will charge for this expenditure in their parish precept, but they would not be charged for this through their special expenses.

A parish council that doesn’t maintain any play areas, but has play areas maintained by us would be charged for this through special expenses.

The information below only applies to Council Tax bills for the financial years up to and including 2024 to 2025. 

On your Council Tax bill for 2024 to 2025, the increase in the charge (or precept) for Adult Social Care is shown as 2%.

This 2% is the increase in the charge for Adult Social Care as a proportion of Essex County Council's total charge for 2023/2024.

The increase between this year's and last year's Adult Social Care charge is 14.68%. 

This means that for a band D property, the increase is £28.98, as last year's amount was £197.46 and this year's is £226.44.

Increases for each band

Band A:

• Adult Social Care charge for 2023/24: £131.64
• Adult Social Care charge for 2024/25: £150.96
• Increase: £19.32

Band B:

• Adult Social Care charge for 2023/24: £153.58
• Adult Social Care charge for 2024/25: £176.12
• Increase: £22.54

Band C:

• Adult Social Care charge for 2023/24: £175.52
• Adult Social Care charge for 2024/25: £201.28
• Increase: £25.76

Band D:

• Adult Social Care charge for 2023/24: £197.46
• Adult Social Care charge for 2024/25: £226.44
• Increase: £28.98

Band E:

• Adult Social Care charge for 2023/24: £241.34
• Adult Social Care charge for 2024/25: £276.76
• Increase: £35.42

Band F:

• Adult Social Care charge for 2023/24: £285.22
• Adult Social Care charge for 2024/25: £327.08
• Increase: £41.86

Band G:

• Adult Social Care charge for 2023/24: £329.10
• Adult Social Care charge for 2024/25: £377.40
• Increase: £48.30

Band H:

• Adult Social Care charge for 2023/24: £394.92
• Adult Social Care charge for 2024/25: £452.88
• Increase: £57.96