The Council Tax Setting Committee of Croydon Council met on 26 February 2026, and reconvened on 27 February 2026, to agree the final Council Tax for the 2026-27 financial year. The meeting was adjourned on the first day due to the Greater London Authority (GLA) precept not having been confirmed. Upon reconvening, the committee approved the total Council Tax for 2026-27, which includes an increase in both the Croydon element and the GLA precept.

Setting the Council Tax 2026-27

The primary purpose of this meeting was to set the Council Tax for the 2026-27 financial year. The committee was established following a resolution by Full Council on 25 February 2026, specifically to agree the final Council Tax amount after the GLA precept was confirmed.

The meeting on 26 February 2026 was adjourned because the GLA meeting, which was due to confirm the GLA precept, had not yet concluded. The committee reconvened on 27 February 2026, at which point it was confirmed that the GLA precept had been set at the anticipated level.

The committee then formally agreed the following:

• The 2026-27 budget, which included an increase in the Croydon element of the Council Tax charge of 4.99%. This increase incorporates a 2.00% levy for Adult Social Care, resulting in a Band D increase of £99.30, bringing the Croydon element to £2,089.40.
• The Greater London Authority (GLA) had agreed its element of Council Tax, the GLA precept, with an increase of 4.10%. This equates to a Band D increase of £20.13, bringing the GLA precept to £510.51.
• The calculation of the total Council Tax for 2026-27, which includes both the Croydon element and the GLA precept. This resulted in a Band D increase of £119.43, setting the total Council Tax at £2,599.91.

This decision aligns with the Council's statutory obligation to set a balanced budget annually, as outlined in the Local Government Finance Act 1992. The report detailing these figures can be found in the Setting the Council Tax 2026-27 document and Appendix 1, Calculation of the 2026-27 Council Tax requirement and Council Tax bands.

The meeting was attended by Executive Mayor Jason Perry, Councillor Stuart King (who was elected Vice-Chair), Councillor Jason Cummings (Cabinet Member for Finance), and Councillor Callton Young OBE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance). Simon Trevaskis, Acting Head of Democratic Services, was also present. A dispensation was granted by the Monitoring Officer, meaning individual declarations of interest were not required due to the significant number of members with disclosable interests relating to council tax.