16 March 2001
Tory boroughs recorded some of the largest increases. Flagship Wandsworth topped the table with a 13.6% rise. Bromley residents' Band D tax will go up by 12.3% and Kensington and Chelsea by 11.9%, while Westminster recorded a 9.3% increase.
Wandsworth said the increase, which still leaves it with the lowest council tax in London, was down to `Ken's tax', a 22.6% increase in the Greater London Authority's budget precept, plus a poor finance settlement from the government.
`There is no way the council can shield residents from the excesses of Ken Livingstone or the failure of the government even to cover its share of inflation,' said Maurice Heaster, chair of the council's policy and resources committee.
The GLA's 22.6% budget precept, opposed by the London boroughs, adds an extra 3.6% to the average council tax bill. Councils across England have been warned to keep council tax below 6.1% but the boroughs look likely to be exempted.
The Association of London Government maintained that it was not all bad news. `Overall, local authorities in London have done a good job to keep increases in council tax to a minimum,' said Sir Robin Wales, chair of the ALG.
`The 22.6% increase in the GLA precept has obviously not helped, but we hope that changes in the budget-setting process for next year will enable any future increases to be kept to a minimum.'
PFmar2001
