High Peak Borough Council agrees £16.6m budget for essential services

High Peak Borough Council has agreed its budget for the coming year, setting spending on key services for residents, businesses and visitors at £16.6 million.

As part of the budget, councillors approved a 2.99% increase in council tax, equivalent to £6.70 per year for a Band D property. This sets the annual charge at £230.89 for 2026/27.

Changes to council tax support

Councillors also agreed updates to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, including:

• Allowing applicants receiving Universal Credit with no earnings to receive the maximum level of support

• Disregarding compensation payments from the Post Office Horizon, infected blood, and LGBT financial recognition schemes when calculating entitlement

• Aligning temporary absence rules in the working-age scheme with those used for pension-age claimants

Housing rent changes

In line with government guidance, council housing rents will rise by 4.8%, setting the average weekly rent at £99.48.

Councillor Alan Barrow, Executive Councillor for Corporate Services and Finance, said:

The Council budget funds the essential everyday services our residents and businesses rely on including waste and recycling collections, our leisure centres, parks and green spaces, and supporting our town centres and villages to thrive.

We are always mindful of the need to strike the balance between providing the high quality, value for money services our communities rely on and keeping costs as low as possible for our tax payers.

If anyone needs help with paying their council tax, I would urge them to review our website for further information or contact the team at the Council as support may be available. We have agreed to expand our council tax reduction scheme to ensure it provides sufficient support for our lowest income households and those facing exceptional hardship, and is applied fairly.

Where council tax goes

The Borough Council collects council tax on behalf of several authorities, including Derbyshire County Council, the police, fire authorities and town and parish councils. The Borough Council retains around 10% of the total collected.

Residents can manage their council tax online by:

• Viewing account information

• Changing payment methods

• Reporting a change of address or ownership

• Applying for a single person discount

• Signing up for paperless billing

For those unable to access services online, support is available by calling 0345 129 7777 or visiting council reception offices in Buxton or Glossop.