Having promised a cut, Labour is increasing council tax, while calling it a freeze.
Earlier this evening, Wandsworth Council voted to increase council tax by 2%, despite a promise at the election to cut tax. The Labour manifesto stated, “We will cut Council Tax.”
The decision adds almost £10 to the bills sent to Band D households for April 2023. Although the main element of tax has been frozen, Labour councillors voted to apply a social care precept at the maximum rate.
However, they had already voted to cut the relevant budget by over £4 million. There will be no additional spending on adult social care from the Council’s decision to use the precept.
The announcement of its decision as a ‘freeze’ was criticised by commentators like Dave Hill, at On London, who said Wandsworth was increasing council tax “while claiming it will freeze it”. He described Labour’s local election pledges as “vague, misleading and contradictory”.
Cllr Simon Hogg refused to respond to On London’s requests for comment.
A week before the election, Cllr Hogg posted a “Wandsworth Labour will cut your tax next year” graphic on social media. Other posts went further, with one official graphic promising, “Wandsworth Labour will cut 1% on council tax bills in Wandsworth.”
Last summer, Cllr Hogg said any decision would depend on government funding. In January, officers confirmed to the Council’s finance committee that government funding had been more generous than expected.
Wandsworth Council has also identified over £8 million in new income during the last month. It would cost £2 million to cut council tax.
A Conservative motion called on Labour to keep its promise of a net reduction of 1% in Wandsworth’s share of council tax. This was rejected, with all the Labour councillors present voting against.
Cllr Peter Graham, the Opposition Speaker for Finance, said:
“Labour has broken its election promise. It’s claiming to charge the same tax, having pledged a cut and delivered an increase. Worse, it’s using the 2% social care precept while slashing the budget for adult social care.
“The public know when they are being taken for fools. Labour said whatever it took to get elected and are now betraying those who believed them.
“With their Mayor of London, Labour is talking about a cost-of-living crisis, but are adding £48 to a Band D bills. They are hiking council tenants’ rents by 7%. They are hiking fees and charges.
“When Wandsworth Labour said they had different values, they obviously meant it.”
