A council tax rise of almost 5% has been approved by Hampshire County Council. The move will see the county council raise £876m, but it will have to draw £68.2m from reserves to close the 2025/26 budget. Council leader Nick Adams-King said it was a "necessary increase" to help tackle the continued pressure on the council's budget.

The government has told Hampshire County Council it cannot increase council tax by 15% for 2025/26. The county council had asked for permission to raise its main source of income above the permitted 4.99% because of budget pressures.