Rates of council tax vary across the London boroughs
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Wandsworth council have frozen their council tax for the third year in a row, whilst the figure across England, Scotland and Wales is increasing by an average of 4%.
Simon Hogg, head of Wandsworth Council confirmed the latest freeze in council tax at a local town council meeting last night. The borough maintain the cheapest bills in London, at £990 per year. This bill is less than half of the city’s most expensive tax, averaging £2,500 in Kingston and Croydon.
Speaking to City News about how they achieved it, one Wandsworth Councillor, who wants to remain anonymous, says its thanks to a large pool of reserves:
We are a pretty efficient council and we put a lot of effort into new technology and switching as many things as possible to online.
They also credit the increase in population for greater reserves, stating that Nine Elms developments have brought in an extra 10,000 council taxpayers.
But the councillor also reveals that large reserves are to thank for maintaining lower taxes.
The last council sold off so many things; 20,000 council homes for a start. They sold off so much that the reserves are very, very large. We’ve been using reserves to keep the Council tax down.
The council stated that they are also committed to spending these reserves on services, but acknowledge that these reserves, and breaks from council tax increases, are only a temporary measure.
This can only continue for another four or five years. The reserves will go in the end.
Whilst Wandsworth residents enjoy comparatively lower taxes for now, there remains a risk that this will change in the future.
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HeadlineWandsworth council tap into reserves to freeze council tax for third year in a row
Short HeadlineWandsworth council tax freeze funded by social housing sale
StandfirstThe borough froze their taxes, funded by reserves from the 20,000 social houses sold off by the previous council in 2022
Wandsworth council have frozen their council tax for the third year in a row, whilst the figure across England, Scotland and Wales is increasing by an average of 4%.
Simon Hogg, head of Wandsworth Council confirmed the latest freeze in council tax at a local town council meeting last night. The borough maintain the cheapest bills in London, at £990 per year. This bill is less than half of the city’s most expensive tax, averaging £2,500 in Kingston and Croydon.
Speaking to City News about how they achieved it, one Wandsworth Councillor, who wants to remain anonymous, says its thanks to a large pool of reserves:
We are a pretty efficient council and we put a lot of effort into new technology and switching as many things as possible to online.
They also credit the increase in population for greater reserves, stating that Nine Elms developments have brought in an extra 10,000 council taxpayers.
But the councillor also reveals that large reserves are to thank for maintaining lower taxes.
The last council sold off so many things; 20,000 council homes for a start. They sold off so much that the reserves are very, very large. We’ve been using reserves to keep the Council tax down.
The council stated that they are also committed to spending these reserves on services, but acknowledge that these reserves, and breaks from council tax increases, are only a temporary measure.
This can only continue for another four or five years. The reserves will go in the end.
Whilst Wandsworth residents enjoy comparatively lower taxes for now, there remains a risk that this will change in the future.
