Council tax is set to rise across a borough by almost £150 a year.

The average rate for a Band D property in Sittingbourne, Faversham and Sheppey from April will be £2,305.72.

This is up 6% from 2024/2025 financial year when it stood at £2,157.58.

At a meeting last Thursday, Swale council agreed to raise its portion of the bill by 2.96%, bringing it up to £206.64.

The remainder of the money goes to Kent County Council, the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner and Kent Fire and Rescue Authority, all of which had already agreed to rises.

Parish and town council precepts are also included. Those saw the highest increase, by more than 10%, on average.

A Band D bill will be made up of:

• Kent County Council - £1,691.19 (up 4.99%)

• Kent Police and Crime Commissioner - £270.15 (up 5.47%)

• Swale council - £206.64 (up 2.96%)

• Kent Fire and Rescue Authority – £94.86 (up 5.51%)

• Town and parish councils (where applicable) – average of £42.88 (up 10.47%)

Swale council’s portion of the tax funds services such as collecting bins, street cleaning, supporting the homeless, inspecting food premises, maintaining play areas, beaches and green spaces and supporting charities.

In the next financial year it is also going towards the council’s ballooning planning budget which has risen by £1 million to £1.423m for 2025/26. In comparison, for 2024/25 it was £409,000.

Some of this extra funding will go towards the council’s fight against the controversial Highsted Park 8,400-home development.

A 12-week public inquiry into the scheme across two planning applications south and east of Sittingbourne begins on March 11.

Swale council, which opposes Quinn Estates’ plans, has set aside what has been described as an “astronomical” amount to pay for legal support with the inquiry.

It has remained tight-lipped about the specific sum involved but KentOnline understands it is to run into hundreds of thousands of pounds - and is possibly as much as £700,000.

Thirty-seven councillors voted for the budget, eight were against and there were four abstentions.

Council leader Cllr Tim Gibson (Lab) said following the agreement: “We have worked together to set a budget which we believe will give us a sound financial footing to provide the quality services our residents depend on.

“We use this relatively modest funding to provide a broad range of services.

“We always have our residents at the forefront of our minds, and we want to help as many people in the borough as possible, this budget will help us to do this in a financially responsible way.”

Car parking costs are also increasing across the borough.

There was also an amendment to introduce fees at free car parks on Sheppey but this was voted down.

The Liberal Democrats put forward the controversial proposal to start charging at Little Oyster car park in Minster, and the library and Park Road, both in Queenborough.

Plans to make drivers pay were scrapped in March last year after opposition from residents and businesses.

But Lib Dem leader Cllr Hannah Perkin raised the issue again and introduced an amendment to the budget, saying it was unfair that her residents in Faversham were facing increased charges while some were still getting parking for free.

But it was voted down with 32 against, four for and three absentations.