Whilst it’s certainly not often that you’ll find the words ‘London’ and ‘cheapest’ co-existing in a sentence; it turns out that miracles really do happen, folks. A beloved borough right here in the capital city has proudly boasted the cheapest Council Tax in the UK for several decades. And (despite the council being offered the extremely rare chance to increase it by as much as they fancied) that doesn’t seem to be changing any time soon.
The lovely, leafy, and oh-so legendary London Borough of Wandsworth is the borough in question. Picture-perfectly perched in the south-west of the city; Wandsworth is home to the likes of Battersea Power Station, Tooting Market, Northcote Road, and the Clapham Grand. In my humble opinion, Wandsworth would nab the crown as the best borough in town regardless of its Council Tax costs. The fact that the local authority has confirmed that it’ll be freezing its rates for the fourth year running is just the cherry on top of an already pretty darn delicious cake.
Council Tax increases in London
Towards the end of last year, five London authorities were given permission to increase their Council Tax by more than the current 5% national cap. The government basically gave these local councils free rein to hike up their Council Tax prices by however much they saw fit – without having to consult residents or local voters.
The five areas granted this special permission were Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham, Westminster, City of London, and – of course – Wandsworth. These five spots were identified as the most likely to lose out on upcoming government funding, so the permission to raise Council Tax rates was essentially granted to soften the blow a tad.
Wandsworth Council have confirmed that it will not be taking up the government’s offer, and will instead be freezing the ‘main element’ of its Council Tax rates for the fourth year on the trot. Wandsworth will only increase the element of Council Tax that is spent on social care, and so the overall Council Tax for Wandsworth residents will only go up by 2%. It was also confirmed today that Westminster Council plan on doing the same.
Wandsworth Council Tax
So, let’s get down to numbers. From April 6, the average Band D household in Wandsworth can expect to pay £1028.21 on their annual Council Tax (an increase of £30.46). To put that into perspective, the average UK household will pay £1770. Most London boroughs are expected to see a 4.99% increase, but all final figures are set to be announced on March 4 when final decisions have been made.
Simon Hogg, leader of Wandsworth Council, said: “Value for money is at the heart of everything we do. Wandsworth has one of the lowest levels of debt and some of the highest financial reserves in London. This allows us to freeze the main element of council tax, keep more money in your pocket and invest in what matters to you.”