Your 2025-26 Council Tax from Hampshire County Council
Message from the Leader of Hampshire County Council
Hampshire is a wonderful place to live, work, and thrive. Our county is renowned for its rich history, beautiful landscapes, vibrant communities and strong local economy. As your County Council, we are deeply committed to maintaining and enhancing the quality of life that makes Hampshire so special. We want to ensure that the county continues to be a place we are all proud to call home.
Our dedication to you, our 1.4 million residents, and especially our most vulnerable, is at the heart of everything we do.
We must, by law, set a balanced budget each year. Agreeing one that makes the most of your money and ensures we uphold our duty to residents is a task we take very seriously. Our priority is to keep delivering important essential services to people across the county, especially to those who need us the most.
Balancing the books
To keep serving the residents of Hampshire and address the increasing demand for social care and support for children with special educational needs, we need to raise our portion of the Council Tax bill by 4.995% starting 1 April 2025. Of this, 2% is earmarked specifically for adult social care, supporting the county’s growing population of older adults and those in greatest need.
This overall increase will generate an extra £50 million to support our overall service delivery costs. These funds will be allocated to various areas, including education and inclusion across hundreds of Hampshire schools, care for vulnerable children and adults, maintaining over 5,000 miles of roads, libraries, outdoor spaces, award-winning country parks, household waste recycling centres, public health, and trading standards. On average, the council tax increase equates to an extra £1.47 per week for a Band D property. Having frozen our council tax for many years in line with the policy of the previous Government, this is a necessary increase to help tackle the continued pressure on our budget which is now at a record high.
We want to be given the tools to become more entrepreneurial and have the powers to decide where to spend and raise money, but our requests of Government to provide us with these powers have not been addressed.
We have cut over £700 million from our budgets in the last decade, and will continue to look for further savings, but there is little left to find, and our reserves will be exhausted by 2026/27. This is the context within which we find ourselves and the background to both well-founded concerns around services and council tax.
Despite this challenging situation, there is positive news, as we’re also actively engaging with the national devolution agenda. Hampshire is one of a small number of local authorities to have been accepted onto Government’s Devolution Priority Programme (DPP) – as a fast track towards devolution for the area, bringing more local control and decision-making power to Hampshire and the Solent region. This is an exciting once-in-a-generation opportunity for us, working with our partners (Southampton and Portsmouth City Councils, and Isle of Wight Council) to self-determine and shape our future and better meet the needs of our residents and communities.
Our Hampshire Pledge
We’re navigating through our financial challenges with determination and rigour, and our commitment to you remains unwavering. We’re making every effort to reduce our spending even further while protecting the quality of our essential services. This is no easy task, but one that we are dedicated to achieving – and with your help, together we can do more. We believe we can continue to balance our books with your help too, by doing things like using our online services, recycling more, and volunteering in your communities. Our Hampshire Pledge, which is set out later in this Council Tax summary, explains more about how we can work together to benefit Hampshire.
No matter what, we are here for Hampshire – serving our residents of today and keeping a clear focus on securing a better future for the county’s generations to come. We understand the importance of every penny of your council tax, and we are committed to making it work hard for you.
Councillor Nick Adams-King
Leader, Hampshire County Council
Our Hampshire, Our Pledge
We can all play a part in maintaining Hampshire as a wonderful place to live. We strive to take care of our neighbourhoods, our families, each other and our environment.
But the financial challenges we face as a County Council, like many councils nationally, are significant which makes it harder to deliver all the things we used to be able to do in the past. Growing demand in key services, particularly social care for those most in need, and less money from central Government means our budgets can’t keep pace. Over the past decade we’ve reduced our spending significantly to ensure we keep balancing the books and look after those most in need – having transformed how we work, become more efficient, innovative and commercial in our approach to delivering services, and now moving towards the delivery of just our core services, which are required by law.
We’re leaving no stone unturned as we endeavour to reduce our costs even further, and this is where we need your help. We believe the actions you take, working collaboratively with us via our ‘Hampshire Pledge’, can help us ease some of the strain on our budgets so we can keep delivering vital services and serve the people of Hampshire.
The Hampshire Pledge sets out Hampshire County Council’s commitment to residents and in turn, what we ask from our residents to help us make sure we’re there for you – by lowering our costs, and ensuring your money works hard for you to keep delivering vital services.
Every action you can take, helps make a difference.
We promise that we will
Deliver quality, essential services, making every penny count
- Like roads, schools, libraries, social care, Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs)
- Support young people with special educational needs and disabilities
- Provide quality care and support for adults with disabilities, older adults and their carers
- Support adults to live independently and well in their own homes for longer
- Protect and support communities – including signposting on ways to help you tackle climate change
- Support your wellbeing and better health
Keep our children and adults safe
- Keep children and adults safe from abuse and harm
Support our local economy to flourish
- Work with our partners to create opportunities for Hampshire to prosper through jobs, skills and boosting the economy
- Enable or deliver the necessary infrastructure and transport schemes to support businesses and growth
- Take action against rogue traders
Listen, and be open, honest and kind
- Invite you to tell us your views through public consultations and engagement activity
- Communicate clearly and provide important information about how we are delivering for you
- Listen and respond to your feedback on how we serve communities
Make it easy for you to use our online services
- Provide access to reliable online services, 24 hours a day
- Make it easy for you to find the information you need on our website
Be a champion for Hampshire and our environment
- Continue to prioritise the needs of our residents and Hampshire’s environment in the decisions we make – including to help tackle climate change
- Support the development and delivery of the green skills of the future
- Help ensure Hampshire’s communities are fit for the future, by securing the right infrastructure in the right place at the right time
- Encourage communities to play their part in tackling climate change
- Look after, enhance and provide access to Hampshire’s rich and diverse natural environment
Work together with our partners on behalf of Hampshire
- Work with Hampshire’s MPs and other local authorities to represent and promote the interests of Hampshire’s residents
- Collaborate with police, fire, health and voluntary sector partners to deliver best value for taxpayers
- Build on our relationship with businesses and the education sector to create more opportunities for Hampshire residents
- Look out for the people of Hampshire today, and for future generations, through the national devolution agenda – to bring more powers from central Government to Hampshire
- Secure the best possible deal to benefit Hampshire’s residents, within Government’s local government reorganisation plans
We’re asking you to
Support your local community and share concerns of harm
- Volunteer and take part in local projects and groups, share your skills, become a mentor or simply lend a hand
- Tell us if you’re worried about the safety or wellbeing of children and adults
- Check on neighbours who might need help in hot and cold weather, offer to lend a hand, or provide companionship
- Use salt bins to help clear footpaths in icy conditions
- Help neighbours get online if they aren’t able
Take time to focus on your health and wellbeing
- Get more active and make healthier food choices
- Enjoy the outdoors and nature
- Quit smoking and reduce your alcohol intake
- Choose more active ways to travel like walking and cycling where possible
Recycle well, recycle better
- Create less waste to reduce costs for you and us, and minimise disposal
- Ensure you re-use and recycle as much as possible
- Use the correct bins so recycling isn’t contaminated, and so we can recycle as much as possible
Support our local businesses
- Shop locally
- Use reputable local tradespeople and professionals
- Know a good local business? Recommend and promote it to others, and via your social media
Use our online services
- Use our quick and easy OurHants app for reporting potholes and other road defects
- Book a slot online or via the app for your visit to our HWRCs
- Visit our website first before contacting us when you need to find something out about our services
- Use our online contact channels when you do need to get in touch with us
Take pride in Hampshire and our environment
- Explore and enjoy Hampshire’s countryside and nature
- Engage with local conservation and ‘green’ projects
- Learn how you can help tackle climate change and take steps to reduce your carbon footprint - and encourage friends and family to do the same
- Use greener ways to travel like walking, cycling and using public transport where you can – boosting your health, improving air quality and helping the environment
- Take care of and look after your surroundings
Get involved to have your say and share your feedback
- Take part in our surveys and public consultations to tell us your views
- Be honest and constructive so we can deliver the best possible services for you
- Use our online channels to have your say or to provide your comments
Hampshire County Council's budget
This is how each £1 of the budget will be spent on essential services in 2025/26 (based on a Band D property).
- 44.7p Adults' social care
- 22.7p Childrens' social care
- 7.9p School transport
- 4.8p Waste disposal and environmental services
- 4.3p Running the Council
- 4.3p Public Health
- 3.4p Roads and streetlighting
- 2.4p Education and learning
- 1.9p Design and maintenance of schools/ public buildings
- 1.2p Concessionary fares and passenger transport
- 1.1p Hampshire's economy and future
- 0.8p Libraries
- 0.3p Coroner's Service
- 0.2p Country Parks and recreation
- 44.7p Adults' social care
- 22.7p Childrens' social care
- 7.9p School transport
- 4.8p Waste disposal and environmental services
- 4.3p Running the Council
- 4.3p Public Health
- 3.4p Roads and streetlighting
- 2.4p Education and learning
- 1.9p Design and maintenance of schools/ public buildings
- 1.2p Concessionary fares and passenger transport
- 1.1p Hampshire's economy and future
- 0.8p Libraries
- 0.3p Coroner's Service
- 0.2p Country Parks and recreation
We also provide schools and early years at a cost of £1.3bn, fully funded by a grant from central Government.
What your Council Tax to Hampshire County Council pays for
- Hampshire County Council’s Council Tax for 2025/26 is
- less than £31 per week
- based on a Band D property
Hampshire County Council is the third largest shire council in the country. We are responsible for around 80% of all the money spent on council services in Hampshire, amounting to £3.1 billion of gross spending over the next 12 months – serving Hampshire residents.
Each year the County Council sets its Council Tax precept to help pay for important services including roads, social care, education and schools, libraries and household waste recycling, to over 1.4 million residents (excluding people living in the Southampton and Portsmouth unitary council areas).
The Council Tax bill you receive in Hampshire also includes separate portions for your local district, borough or city council, local policing and the Fire & Rescue Service.
Hampshire County Council’s council tax is among the lowest of any county council in England.
- For an average Band D property, the Hampshire County Council precept is £1,609.83 from 1 April 2025
- This is an increase of £1.47 per week from last year
A large proportion of the County Council’s budget is spent on providing social care, for both older and younger adults as well as children – like protecting children from harm and neglect, social care for Hampshire’s growing older population, supporting adults and children with disabilities and additional needs, as well as school transport for children with special educational needs. Like other councils across the country, the costs of delivering these social care services keeps rising because of inflation and price increases by care providers, as well as demand being at record levels, especially in social care – pushing up our overall costs by an extra £188 million from April. Therefore 2% of this year’s council tax increase will go towards helping meet these financial pressures in adult social care.
This year's spending priorities
The driving force behind all that we do is supporting residents in Hampshire who need us the most - while ensuring that we build safe, healthy, resilient, and prosperous communities, and protect the county's rich and diverse natural environment, for everyone, for years to come.
For 2025/26 this will include:
Protecting and caring for Hampshire's children
Our commitment to protecting children and supporting families is unwavering. We strive to ensure that children receive the care and protection they need, shielding them from harm, abuse, and neglect.
Recognised among the best in the country, our Children’s Services have been rated in the highest category by Ofsted. Each year, we provide essential social care support to more than 10,000 children, including through our fostering and adoption services. Awareness about how to report abuse has grown, and we receive over 165,000 safeguarding reports annually in Hampshire. We’re dedicated to making it easier and faster for families to access the help they need.
Our focus is on keeping families together safely whenever possible, ensuring children grow up in a safe, secure and supportive environment.
Special educational needs
We're now supporting over 16,000 Hampshire children and young people every year with special educational needs and/or disabilities to achieve positive outcomes in their education, including providing essential help for their families and respite; equipment and therapies, emotional, wellbeing and healthcare support.
We also transport over 14,000 pupils to and from school via more than 5.4 million student journeys each year – an area where costs have increased by £34 million in the last year alone.
We continue to invest in supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities, including £8 million earmarked for projects, all commencing in 2025/26, specifically to support children with additional needs across 12 Hampshire schools.
Providing adult social care
With Hampshire's population of people aged 90 and above expected to rise by 26% over the next five years, the demand for social care support for our growing older population and adults with more complex needs is reaching new heights.
Each year, we assist over 20,400 people with long-term support, including those with learning and physical disabilities and mental health needs.
We recognise the importance of helping people live independently and in good health in their own homes for as long as possible. To help achieve this, we support 14,000 people annually in transitioning safely from hospital to home, we deliver over four million hours of home care, manage nearly 1,000 extra care apartments, and use state-of-the-art technology to deliver extra support and peace of mind to individuals and their families.
Looking after Hampshire's roads
Strong roads are vital to people's day-to-day lives, the public's safety and to keep the local economy thriving, so we remain committed to looking after Hampshire's highways.
In 2025, we're introducing a new scheme targeted at organisations like utility and broadband companies, to reduce the disruption and delays from roadworks on the county's busiest routes at peak times – speeding up the time taken to complete the work. We're also continuing to repair defects like potholes across our 5,500 miles of road network, ensuring we prioritise those that are safety-related to keep Hampshire safe and our roads moving.
Colder and wetter winters take their toll on our highways and Hampshire isn't alone in facing the considerable challenge of keeping local roads in a good condition. We continue to prioritise safety-related defects like potholes and other defects using the latest, innovative repair treatments and processes to speed up repairs when they're reported to us.
Securing the best deal for Hampshire
As well as being a wonderful place to live, the wider Hampshire and Solent region is home to over two million residents and 90,000 businesses, and an economy that generates around £80 billion a year. It's a powerhouse of economic activity and a significant asset for the wider UK economy.
We're working closely with our neighbouring local authorities in the region (in Southampton, Portsmouth and Isle of Wight) to help shape Hampshire's future, to secure the best possible deal for residents through the national devolution agenda. By transferring more central Government decision-making powers and extra money to councils and providing greater local control over vital areas like education, the environment, transport, and health services for Hampshire residents, it will give people more power to shape the things that are important to them and provide strong local accountability.
At the same time, we're committed to developing an effective plan for local government reorganisation in the area, which will transform the landscape of Hampshire's local authorities, help simplify how they are organised and run and create large and financially resilient councils that are more efficient, effective and deliver better value for money for taxpayers.