Wandsworth council tax set to be UK lowest again

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only paying extra for the Mayor of London's charges

The proposal for a standstill tax would leave the council's share of the bill for local services at £372 for a typical Band D property.

The Mayor's tax will go up again by 2 per cent to £310 - his share has now risen by 152 per cent in eight years.

The combined figure of £682 is likely to remain the lowest in the country. Across London only three councils are expected to set a charge below £1,000.

Deputy council leader Maurice Heaster said the council wanted to protect residents from rising tax bills:

"When people see all their other bills going up they can at least be certain that Wandsworth Council will be doing everything in its power to limit its own spending. We are keeping council tax bills down while at the same time delivering excellent services. The Audit Commission has now given us top marks for quality six years running. It’s a value for money record that no one can match.

"We are doing this through our own efforts. Government grant levels are falling behind inflation - it's up to us to bridge the gap by running our services efficiently and making the best use of local taxpayers' money.  The council has a very clear picture of what it wants to achieve for its residents. We think Wandsworth is the best place to live in London - all our efforts are geared to protecting and improving people's quality of life.

"We are setting aside £6m this year to pump prime a major programme of investment in transport improvements in Wandsworth town centre. This could bring in millions more from private developers and other sources. Leaving our residents with more money in their pockets is part of that vision. For the elderly and others on fixed incomes it's a lifeline. It's about giving everyone choice over how they spend their money."

This year's government grant increase of 2 per cent is the lowest amount possible under the current rules. The council has been told to expect even smaller increases in subsequent years.

The Audit Commission said this week that the council provided 'responsive, high-quality services at the lowest possible cost.' It was particularly impressed by services for children and young people which it said were 'excellent.'

The council’s budget requirement for 2008/2009 will be set at £192.7m.

The proposals for 2008/2009 will be considered first by the corporate resources overview and scrutiny committee on March 5 before being voted on by the full council on March 10.

The aggregate Band D figure of £682 compares to £676 in the current year and is the amount payable by two person households in the majority area of the borough. Band D residents liable for the levy of the Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators will pay a slightly higher inclusive figure of £705.

February 22, 2008