One resident said the increased bill has contributed to an ‘excruciating’ financial burden for his family

Locals are annoyed that ‘mismanaged’ money has caused part of their council tax bill to increase by 68 per cent. The precept for Cambourne Town Council means the town’s residents have seen their bills increase by more than in other parts of Cambridgeshire.

Aaron Kersey said the increase is ‘ridiculous’. “Other people make mistakes and we have to pay for it,” he said. He added: “We have roots growing in our parking spaces that they need to sort out, but they aren’t doing anything about. We’ve noticed that our joint account has gone down, but all bills are going up. Our tax has gone up by about £240 a year.”

The town council does not receive funding from central government. A spokesperson said the authority “acknowledges and sincerely apologises” for the increase.

Lanre Olu-Adeyemi expressed a “deep concern” about the increase, as his annual council tax bill has gone from £2,383 in 2025/26, up to £2,727 for 2026/27. He said this has contributed to an “excruciating financial burden” for his family, as they grapple with a rise in living costs.

Kin Leu described the increase as “huge”. He said: “The actual amount of money is not huge, but the percentage for Cambourne is. It’s a big increase. Mine is around £2,500 this year, and compared to last year it’s a few hundred pounds more. Let’s see if they do anything with it.”

A couple that moved from Hong Kong to Cambourne a few months ago, and wished to remain anonymous, said: “We hope the situation will not get worse and hope the increase is just temporary. Hopefully it will improve.”

Another man, who wished to not be named, has lived in Cambourne for 18 years. He also described the increase as ‘huge’. He said: “There is a thing of what is being provided for local residents? Down my street, it was one of the first streets in Cambourne. It looks beautiful, but it took six months to get the autumn leaves cleared.”

While it will increase this man’s monthly bills, he said the rise will not overly affect him. He added: “Personally, it’s not stopping me from feeding my family, but for some people it may be harder. It’s not clear if this is temporary or if it’s going to be the same going forward.”

Michael Abbott said he “couldn’t believe it” when he saw the increase. He added: “Due to someone else not being organised and money being mismanaged, everyone else has to suffer. It hasn’t affected me massively, but it’s an extra bit of money to pay that will leave me with less for myself. I just hope it’s a temporary thing and not something that affects everyone for years to come.”

Paul Matthews said he doesn’t mind the increase if it can be ‘justified’. He said: “If they can justify the raise then I’ll accept it. However they are not publishing why. It’s frustrating not knowing why they have increased it significantly. Looking back at previous years, we were probably outraged at paying just over £1,500.

“Now it’s just under £2,500, and what extra services are we getting? I see they give an increase in what services via percentage but why? An explanation of why it has increased may be beneficial for people to understand.”

At a full council meeting on February 3, Cambourne Town Council agreed its precept for the 2026/27 year, which was agreed at £1,493,098. This was an increase of £636,061 compared to the previous year.

As a result, this means for residents in council tax band D, the annual contribution for the town council precept would be £319.17. The 68% increase means these households are paying an extra £2.97 a week.

A spokesperson for Cambourne Town Council said: “The council fully recognise that this increase comes at a time when many households are under financial pressure, and we do not underestimate the concern this will cause. Following the council’s Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) in 2025, serious issues were identified, particularly around the management of Council reserves and the receipt and use of Section 106 funds.

“Since that time, the Council has been working intensively to address and rectify these matters and to rebuild trust. The Council accepts that restricted funds, including S106 monies, were previously used for revenue expenditure when they should not have been.

“These funds must now be replenished and the projects they were intended for delivered. We deeply regret these decisions and the consequences they have had for the council and the community. As part of this improvement programme, the council has strengthened its governance and operational arrangements.

“This has included revising the staffing structure to reflect best practice, notably the separation of the clerk and Responsible Financial Officer (RFO) roles, alongside enhanced professional support.”

The town council has set out a number of priorities it has ‘committed’ to aim for in the next financial year. “We remain committed to maintaining the services and facilities that support and are used by our community,” the spokesperson added.