Cheltenham Borough Council spending plans

The level of council tax

Council tax is the main source of locally raised income for Cheltenham and is used to meet the difference between the amount we propose to spend and the amount we receive from other sources such as business rates and government grants.

The proportion of our funding raised from council tax has significantly increased in the decade to 2025 as funding from central government has decreased sharply. As a result, council tax is considered an increasingly important mode of local government financing. This is reflected in the central government decision to allow district councils to increase council tax by £5 per year or up to 2.99%, whichever is higher. Locally we have had to consider the levels of expected growth in Cheltenham and the financial sustainability of any increase in council tax for our residents.

The average council tax you will pay for services provided by Cheltenham Borough Council is £244.79 for a Band D taxpayer. This is an increase of £7.11 or 2.99% over last year, or 13.7 pence per week.

Service delivery

We aim to maintain the delivery and high standard of our services to residents, protecting front line services within the reduced funding available.

Despite the financial uncertainty caused by the cost-of-living crisis and speed of delivery of the required savings to support general balances, over the last two years, we have continued to demonstrate our commitment to make Cheltenham a place where everyone can thrive. 

We have made considerable investment to drive sustainable growth in the town:

• An investment of £87k into the upgrade of the public space around Clarence Fountain to improve facilities, seating and planting
• A £3.3m investment in retail units on the High Street for development and regeneration. The seed funding of which was built into the 2023/24 base budget.
• Funding to refurbish Montpellier Gardens toilets to include a Changing Places facility and greater parity between male and female toilets
• A contribution of £250k to the refurbishment of the Wilson Art Gallery and Museum which has now re-opened with new galleries and a café facilities
• The re-design of the Minster Gardens to connect the high street to the MX and Wilson Art Gallery

This has come at the same time that our council has experienced the same financial pressures as you may have at home, from rising energy prices and interest rates to significant inflationary increases on many of our contract costs.

In February 2023, we approved our new Corporate Plan for 2023-27 which provides a re-commitment to our key priorities. From investment in Golden Valley to make Cheltenham the cyber capital of the UK to supporting our most vulnerable communities through our No Child Left Behind initiatives, our Council will continue our focus on delivery despite the ongoing financial turbulence.  

The plans set out in the 2024/25 budget, including the reserves and savings strategies, are key to ensuring our council continues to be financially resilient through the medium term as central government delays continue around changes to local authority funding.

Working together to plan for Cheltenham’s future

A formal budget consultation took place during December 2024 and January 2025. Interested parties including businesses, tenants, residents, staff and trade unions were encouraged to comment on the budget proposals. The Council’s response to these submissions was published as part of the final budget papers in February 2025.

How our budget compares with last year

Visit our budget page for a full breakdown of the budget. For further information on the budget including a full list of improved services and savings please contact financial services on 01242 262626.