George Finch insists his own experiences with poverty will continue to influence his push against maximum council tax rises – even if it means battling finance professionals.

Arguably the most meaningful change that Reform UK has brought in since taking control of Warwickshire County Council is reopening the debate on the scale of council tax rises.

Increased pressures related to social care, special education needs (SEN) and home-to-school transport saw any talk of taking less than the maximum permitted – 4.99 per cent each year – slip off the agenda under the Conservatives.

Cllr Finch set out his stall in a social media video ahead of budget setting in February 2026, advocating limiting that rise to 3.89 per cent.

That difference would have reduced the bill for an average Band D property by £20.05 per year and the lowest-value Band A properties by £14.36 per year. The flip side was an estimated combined reduction to the council's income of £26 million over a five-year period.

It came with the traditional warnings that councillors would have to make even more difficult and unpalatable choices about services with the county finances already stretched.

With no party having outright control the compromise landed on 4.44 per cent but notably, the parties that had always gathered behind the need for 4.99 per cent shifted.

Watching the pre-payment meter

"That was my first budget, set by what some people thought of as the worst council leader in the world because I was 19," said Cllr Finch.

"I had one goal, to make sure the council tax rise was as low as possible. If I had my way and we had a majority I would have gone with 3.89 per cent.

"The people that I talk about, who have to make decisions about whether to heat their homes or eat, that was my family at one point.

"We had to go to foodbanks and I learned quickly about how difficult some decisions can be, how 90p can make that difference to an elderly person on a pre-payment meter trying to heat their homes for a few hours a day.

"I remember sitting by the pre-payment meter and seeing we were over by 10p. My family, even my grandparents, have had these things to deal with but we had our beliefs and morals around saving money and looking within your own four walls, not spending as much, and the belief that brighter days will come."

'Kicking and screaming' – the internal battles

Cllr Finch admitted he faced many questions about his plans.

"When I decided with the cabinet to go for a lower council tax rise, people within my group did ask what the implications would be," he said.

"I explained that we are the party of lower council tax. The Tories before, 4.99 per cent, they didn't bat an eyelid. We are different, we don't want to do that.

"You would have to drag me kicking and screaming to a maximum rise. I would not be able to stomach it, I couldn't. It is not in my heart to do it, even if that means I make enemies or have to have stern conversations with other group leaders to make them realise."

The politicians were not alone in needing convincing.

In the build-up to each budget, council finance officers – the employed professionals – assess the long-term picture and detail how much they believe the council has to spend or needs to save.

In recent years that has been dominated by multi-million pound savings with a list of options put forward for consideration that politicians from different groups tweak in line with their priorities.

Asked what the reaction of officers was to his 3.89 per cent proposal, Cllr Finch said: "There was silence and (then) a comment of 'that's not working'.

"We made it work. We had a balanced budget at 3.89. With my ambition, we will find those savings, I want to make more efficiencies where possible.

"I remember, for example, that (officers said) we had to do 4.99 but 'here are a few savings you can make to say you've saved money'. No, I want to save more.

"Then I wanted to allocate some money to domestic abuse support. 'No, no, we don't have the money for that.' Two weeks before the budget, we've found the money – oh, we're pulling it from the back of the sofa are we?

"I know when it gets to these decisions they are purposely trying to change direction, they want to change our course.

"We have some great finance people, they are amazing, but because they have had 4.99 rises for years, when we said 3.89 or 4.44, it was going to be hard work. They had to look elsewhere and make tough decisions – but they are paid 140k to make tough decisions, it is what they are there to do.

"When we said we wanted it to be lower it was that Sir Humphrey, 'are you sure you want to do that?' Some councillors would eventually be picked off by that but I said no, my integrity would not be wavered by a tough decision.

"If we are going to tell departments to make efficiencies, we will do it. I will go around with you (finance officers) and have those conversations.

"I feel sorry for a lot of the Tory councillors that sucked it up and voted for that, I couldn't have."

When asked, Cllr Finch said that some Conservatives had shared such frustrations with him but declined to say who.

"I don't think it would be appropriate," he said.

"I was not a councillor at the time but I know for a fact that Tory councillors bit the bullet.

"It was the same with the climate emergency, they were told to do that by Izzi (Seccombe, previous leader). I don't know who told her to do it but let's just say it is now a member-led organisation."

The response

Conservative group leader Cllr Adrian Warwick, a councillor under both administrations, said councillors had not been instructed how to vote on climate matters during the party's time in office.

On council tax, Cllr Warwick said the picture had only changed this year due to the government sorting out the statutory override related to SEN, taking millions of pounds of liability off the council's books.

"George was only able to deliver anything under 4.99 because of that," he said.

"The Conservatives have always been fiscally responsible, offering the very best value we can for the public.

"Do people feel that they are better off under this administration, that they have better services and better roads? I'll let the public decide."

Warwickshire County Council has been approached for comment.