Wandsworth Council Announces Tax Freeze
as Council plans to continue to have the lowest UK council tax
Wandsworth's council tax is on course to remain the lowest in the UK at £682 for a Band D property after the authority announced proposals for freezing its share of the bills for the second year running.
With the Mayor of London also holding down his tax for the first time it means Wandsworth residents will see no increase in the amount they pay for local services.
At the same time the council is stepping up its support for the local economy with a package of recession-fighting measures. These include proposals to cap parking charges, offer 12-monthly payment options for business rates and recruit 30 apprentices.
The council will also increase support for local post offices threatened by government cutbacks. From 2009 council-funded freedom passes which enable older residents to use public transport at no cost will be issued at post offices.
Deputy council leader Maurice Heaster pictured left said keeping down taxes was even more critical during a financial downturn:
"Recession or no recession Wandsworth Council has delivered the lowest average taxes in the country for the last 25 years. This year's freeze means the borough's charges won't have gone up for three years.
"It's always been the Wandsworth way to keep a tight rein on spending. That's what our residents have come to expect from us. This year more than ever we know that people are looking at us and asking what we can do to help them through these difficult times.
"It's why we've put together a new economic package which is designed to make Wandsworth the best place in the capital to do business."
Wandsworth has been rated a four star authority by the Audit Commission for the last six years. This means that while taxes have remained the lowest in the UK the council has continued to attract top marks for the high quality of its services.
Proposed measures aimed at boosting local employment and supporting the borough's business community include:
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The council’s budget requirement for 2009/2010 will be set at £196.7m.
The proposals for 2009/2010 will be considered first by the corporate resources overview and scrutiny committee on March 4 before being voted on by the full council on March 10.
The aggregate Band D figure of £682 is unchanged from 2008/2009. It 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 £706
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