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Wandsworth Council announces record council tax increase
The council says the rise is needed to cover an £84 million funding loss under Labour government reforms and protect local services.
On Tuesday, Wandsworth Council announced plans to increase Band D council tax by 94%, adding £958 to annual bills starting in April 2027.
The borough faces an £84m annual funding reduction due to the Fair Funding Review 2.0, which redistributes resources from London to the North.
Currently, Wandsworth maintains one of the lowest council tax rates in the country at £1,020.35 for Band D properties; the government granted five London boroughs permission to exceed the usual 5% cap for two years.
Deputy Leader Peter Graham stated, "We promised that we'd be honest with residents," while the council consults on using the Sustainable Communities Act to challenge funding cuts before deciding early next year.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government defended the changes as necessary to reform the "outdated" council funding system, a shift affecting major boroughs including Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea.