Full Breakdown
Halton Council Tax Rise Amid Growing Social-Care Costs
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Halton Borough Council, which governs the Cheshire town of Runcorn, raised council tax by 4.99 percent after a larger 7.99 percent increase was rejected by the central government. The hike comes as the council grapples with soaring adult social-care expenditures and a shortfall of roughly £16 million from the Government’s Fair Funding Review.
Background & Context
Halton is among the most deprived boroughs in England, with almost half of its residents placed in the nation’s most deprived 20 percent. Age UK Mid Mersey notes that deprivation correlates with lower healthy life expectancy, meaning more people require long-term care. The council’s limited fiscal base forces it to shoulder a larger share of care costs that wealthier areas can self-fund.
Data & Statistics
- In the 2022-23 financial year, adult social-care spending was £53 million; a report by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy projects the budget will reach £74.3 million for 2025-26, a 40 percent rise.
- Last year the council spent 93 percent of its core funding on adult social care and relied on £35 million of exceptional central-government support.
- Child-social-care services accounted for 42 percent of the council’s 2025-26 social-care budget, while the Children’s Commissioner for England identified Halton as the fifth-most challenging place to be a child, noting a zero spend on youth services.
Official Statements & Responses
Rachel McKernan, CEO of Age UK Mid Mersey, explained that high deprivation and few adults able to meet self-funding thresholds push responsibility onto the local authority. The council has not issued a formal comment beyond announcing the tax increase.
Criticism & Opposition
Local resident Maureen Burgess, a retiree, said she can accept the tax rise if the money is spent responsibly, but urged the central government to address the funding gap. Former foster carer Carole Shaw expressed frustration that limited youth-service spending leaves young people without jobs or support, echoing broader community sentiment that the town’s amenities are deteriorating despite higher taxes.