Kingston Council has approved proposals to raise council tax by almost five per cent, retaining its position as the most expensive borough in London according to government data.
The increase, approved by councillors on 27 February, will hike bills by 4.99 per cent, with the average Band D household bill rising from £2374 to £2489.
Defending the rise, Cllr Andrew Wooldridge said: “No council wants to increase council tax but we must be honest about the alternatives. Without this budget, services that residents rely on, care for vulnerable adults, support for children and maintenance of our streets and public spaces would be at risk.”
The new figures for a Band D property include £95.01 extra for the council, whilst the Mayor of London will receive another £18.98, ensuring annual bills for an average household will rise by more than £100.
The increase lays bare the disparity between London boroughs.
The total yearly amount charged is over £100 more than neighbouring Richmond, which is due to rise to £2,372, whilst London’s cheapest borough, Wandsworth, is almost £1500 cheaper at only £998.
Croydon comes in as the second most expensive, just £9 cheaper after an identical 4.99 per cent rise, taking bills to £2480.
It became the first London borough to declare bankruptcy in 2020 with a debt burden of £1.4bn, leaving it needing to find £71 million to cover repayments and interest in 2025.
Those living in Kingston have been left questioning why they are paying such a similar rate.
Kingston resident, Tom Yelland, said: “It’s a joke. The council know we have to pay it so they increase it.”
However, another local, Andrea Tucker, said: “Questions need to be asked of central government. They continue to give Kingston little or no settlement whereas other boroughs get heavily subsidised.”
Kingston Council’s budget report listed extreme financial pressures, coupled with an increase in need for services like adult social care, as the primary reason behind the rise in tax.
The council also receives little money from the Revenue Support Grant, funding allocated by the government without restrictions on what it can be spent on.
The level of funding is primarily allocated based on perceived need, so as Kingston is a relatively affluent area, central government funding has traditionally remained low.
Kingston is expected to receive 13.7% of its funding through this measure, leaving it to raise almost 75% of its funds through council tax.
In contrast, traditionally less wealthy borough Tower Hamlets receives more than 40% of its funding through government grants, requiring it to raise only 35.6% of its income from council tax bills.
Lowest-charging borough Wandsworth suggests it is able to keep council tax low through a combination of efficient financial management, low debt levels and high financial reserves.
However, speaking to The Kingston Courier, leader of The Independent Group on Kingston Council, Cllr James Giles, said it was a question of priorities and accused councillors of “feathering their own nests, free food on the taxpayer’s dime and spending money on frills and fripperies”.
He said: “Budgets are about political choices and to me, it’s a slap in the face to residents when you say to them, you have to pay more so we can take more.
“It was just so staggeringly tone deaf that I was really quite taken aback.”
Giles added that whilst proper investment from central government was indeed necessary, it could not be used as an excuse for the political choices being taken by the council.
The new council tax bills will be sent to households in Kingston this March.
If you are struggling to pay your bill, you may be eligible to apply for a reduction here.
Politics Editor of the Kingston Courier. Please get in touch if you have any local stories or political issues you wish to share that might be of interest!
