Wandsworth Council to raise council tax by 94 per cent amid funding cuts
A London council has confirmed it will raise council taxes by 94 per cent in the wake of an £84 million cut in government funding, reports BritPanorama.
Wandsworth Council, historically known for its low tax rates, announced that it would increase tax on Band D properties by £958, marking nearly a 100 per cent hike. The Conservative-run authority stated that the increase would proceed unless the government reassesses its funding cuts.
Councillors cited “significant financial pressure from government funding reform” as a key reason for the decision, alongside rising costs and increasing demand for services. The council attributed the funding reduction to the government’s Fair Funding reforms, which redistribute local government funding away from areas in London, leading to an £84 million shortfall.
This funding loss equates to a 40 per cent reduction in overall spending for essential services such as parks, libraries, leisure centres, bin collection, and street cleaning.
Deputy leader Peter Graham expressed the council’s reluctance to implement the tax increase, stating, “Council tax will need to rise unless government thinks again. And it must think again.” He emphasized the necessity of additional income to protect services that residents rely on, urging that “residents should not be left to carry the cost of an unfair funding system.”
He added, “Our message to residents is clear: we are on your side, we are making your case, and we will keep fighting for the funding Wandsworth deserves.”
The south London borough has announced plans to submit a proposal under the Sustainable Communities Act, alongside Westminster City Council, London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, and Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, as well as a proposal for the government’s Autumn Budget.
Labour MP for Putney, Fleur Anderson, criticized the council’s decision, calling the proposed increase “shocking” and “very worrying” for families across Wandsworth. She suggested that the Conservative administration is responsible for these financial pressures and urged them to consider reversing the decision.
While Wandsworth previously had one of the lowest council tax rates in the country, the announcement confirmed the rise would begin in April 2027. The local government minister Angela Rayner will oversee the implementation of plans that have shifted funding towards more deprived areas, aimed at restoring “pride and opportunity in left behind places.”
Under recent guidelines, most councils typically increase council tax bills by the maximum allowed amount of 4.99 per cent for those with social care responsibilities. However, six councils, including Wandsworth, have been granted permission to enact larger hikes for two years without requiring a residents’ referendum.
