Battersea: Local tax bills will rise despite 'council tax freeze'

A South London authority is planning to freeze its core share of council tax as locals struggle with the cost of living. Wandsworth residents are set to continue having some of the lowest council tax bills in the country despite high inflation.

Wandsworth Council said it will keep tax as low as possible for the coming 2023/24 financial year while delivering better services for residents after the Labour-run local authority took over from the Conservatives for the first time in 44 years last May.

However the council's leaders will hike the adult social care precept by the maximum amount it is allowed to without legally triggering a referendum, meaning local bills will still rise by 2 per cent to help fund social care services. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is also set to increase his share of council tax bills in the capital by 9.7pc to help fund police, fire and transport.

It comes after the government lifted the referendum cap in November last year, meaning councils can raise taxes by 4.99pc annually without the need for it to be voted in by residents. The permitted increase includes 2.99pc for general use and an extra 2pc for adult social care.

The move from Wandsworth Council means the total average bill for band D households in the borough not subject to the extra Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators (WPCC) levy will be £914.14.

WPCC plan on increasing the special levy by 12.6pc in April, affecting residents living close to the commons. The average council tax paid by band D households affected by the levy will be £950.10 under the plans. 

Labour council leader Simon Hogg announced the council's plans in a letter to residents. Councillor Hogg said freezing the main share of council tax is a key element of the authority's plan to deliver a "fairer, compassionate, more sustainable borough".

Councillor Hogg said: "Wandsworth is a fantastic place to live. Our strong, diverse communities represent the best of modern Britain. Our plan will help keep Wandsworth special and make sure all residents can share the fantastic opportunities our borough provides."

Along with a freeze in council tax, the council said it will provide free monthly mega skips, guarantee weekly bin collections and expand its food waste collection pilot. It added it will deliver 1,000 council homes, introduce landlord licensing to protect private renters and work with residents to support 800 Ukrainian refugees.

The council has also dedicated £5 million to help residents with the cost-of-living crisis, including providing free school uniforms for some families, free gym and swimming sessions for those on Universal Credit or free school meals and creating a network of warm spaces where locals can stay warm over winter.

Under the previous Conservative administration Wandsworth cut its share of council tax for 2022/23 by 1pc overall, reducing the core element by 2pc and increasing the adult social care levy by 1pc. The authority froze its core share of tax and increased the adult social care precept by 3pc the year before. Wandsworth Labour pledged to keep council tax low after its victory at the local elections last May.

Most top-tier councils across the country have revealed they are planning to increase council tax by the maximum amount allowed in April. Research by the County Councils Network published on February 14 showed three-quarters of English councils with social care duties that had published their 2023/24 budget proposals so far planned a 4.99pc hike – at 84 out of 114.

Three councils have special permission to raise tax above 5pc after effectively declaring bankruptcy – including Croydon, which will hike bills by 15pc.

The plans for Wandsworth will be presented to the finance committee on March 1 and voted on by the executive on March 7.