What you get for your council tax
Published
Thursday 19 February, 2026
Updated
Thursday 19 February, 2026
Swale councillors approved the budget and council tax levels for the 2026/27 financial year last night.
The decision makes sure the council can protect the frontline services residents value most, from weekly waste collections to the upkeep of the borough's parks and play areas.
For a Band D home, the cost of Swale’s services will be £212.76 for the year. This covers essential work including:
- collecting bins and cleaning streets
- supporting local families facing homelessness
- inspecting food premises
- maintaining play areas, beaches and green spaces
- supporting the local voluntary and community sector
The cost of this to residents is equivalent to £4.09 a week, however, most households in the borough will pay less than this because their homes are in a lower council tax band.
More than 60% of residents in Swale are in bands A to C meaning they pay between £141.84 and £189.12 per year in total for Swale Borough Council’s services.
While Swale Borough Council is responsible for collecting all council tax listed on your bill, it only keeps around 9p in every £1 to fund its own services.
The full breakdown for where your council tax payments go for a typical Band D property is listed below:
- Kent County Council - £1,758.60 (up 3.99%)
- Kent Police and Crime Commissioner - £285.15 (up 5.55%)
- Swale Borough Council - £212.76 (up 2.96%)
- Kent Fire and Rescue Authority – £99.81 (up 5.22%)
- Town and parish councils (where applicable) – average of £49.33 (up 15%)
Cllr Tim Gibson, leader of the council, said:
“We have approved a budget that protects the vital services that our residents rely on every day. While we must balance our books by law, this budget supports our commitment to keep working to improve the local area and support our most vulnerable residents.
“For around £4 a week we provide a wide range of services for local people. Last year alone, we collected 7.12 million bins and inspected 533 food premises to keep you safe when eating out.
“We are also doing more for those who need our help the most. We helped more than 5,000 households with food, fuel and energy support, and worked to clear £43,000 of water debt from struggling families.
“Children can play safely in play areas thanks to more than 3,900 inspections last year, and we’ve hosted over 70 events in our green spaces for people to get outside and get active, including tree planting events which saw 1,600 new trees planted.
"We’ve also rescued around 58 dogs, helped offenders recycle almost 300 bikes and learn new skills through our Cycle-re-Cycle scheme, and helped more than 2,000 pensioners to pay nothing for their council tax.
"Our planning service dealt with more than 1,513 applications, carried out 374 investigations, taken 17 legal actions and reviewed 5 conservation areas, forming a brand new one, while also working to secure the future of the borough with a new local plan.
"Swale’s environmental services investigated 388 instances of fly-tipping, conducted 10 operations to stop and issue fixed penalty notices to those illegally transporting waste, investigated 654 noise complaints and 480 abandoned vehicles.
"We are also investing in the future, with plans for 51 new social houses and installing solar panels on council buildings to cut energy costs and save money in the longer term.
"This budget is about responsible financial management while striving to ensure that Swale remains a clean, safe, and supportive place to live."
