Council Tax freeze for the fourth year in a row

Residents will continue to pay the lowest Council Tax in the country, as councillors intend to freeze the main element of Council Tax for the fourth year in a row.

Leader of Wandsworth Council, Simon Hogg, says “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”

Through value for money, Wandsworth has kept Council Tax low and delivered on key priorities for residents:

• 25% improvement in our recycling rate - every household now gets two Free Bulky Waste collections a year, more free Mega Skip Days and guaranteed weekly waste and recycling collections.
• New rapid response CCTV cars – we have increased street lighting at night, doubled support for victims of domestic abuse and hired more community safety officers to keep Wandsworth the safest inner-London borough.
• Best ever air quality - we cherish our parks and green spaces, with record investment and 1,000 trees planted each year so everyone can enjoy a healthier, greener place to live.

Caring for our most vulnerable neighbours is central to what we do. We will continue to provide excellent care for our older residents and support the NHS. An increase of two per cent in the adult social care precept this year will help fund this vital work.

In December, Simon Hogg reiterated the Council’s long-standing position on Council Tax. The government offered Wandsworth the freedom to increase Council Tax beyond the 5% referendum limit in future years, and Simon Hogg said “my administration won’t be using it. It’s the right thing to keep Council Tax as low as we can.”

We deliver more for you through smart partnerships: our work with Apple brings skills and tech into local schools; introducing Parkrun keeps us fit and connected and Dolly Parton now gives every child in Wandsworth free books up to their fifth birthday.

Simon Hogg adds, “thanks to our residents, Wandsworth is enjoying an amazing year as London’s Borough of Culture, our children start the day ready to learn with free school breakfasts and we’re a proud Borough of Sanctuary for refugees. Together, let’s keep Wandsworth special.”

wandsworth.gov.uk/freeze

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