Wandsworth residents are once again set to pay the lowest council tax in the capital.
Wandsworth Council plans to freeze its core share of the bill, which funds general services, meaning average band D households would pay £990 in 2025/26.
Overall, the authority’s share of council tax is set to rise by 2 per cent in April to cover adult social care costs, instead of the maximum 4.99 per cent allowed without holding a referendum. This means average band D households in most areas of Wandsworth would see their total council tax rise by £29 to £990 – including Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s share, which is set to increase by £19 to £490 to help fund police, fire and transport.
The council claimed Wandsworth residents would benefit from the lowest council tax in the country under the plans, which would see it freeze its core share of the bill for the third year in a row. It said it will continue to look after the borough’s most vulnerable residents, despite rising demand in adult and children’s social care and homelessness services, while providing ‘excellent care’ to the elderly and supporting the NHS.
The authority outlined recent improvements to services, including a guarantee that staff will answer calls to its main helpline within seven rings. It pledged to fix any dangerous potholes, damaged street signs and graffiti within seven days of them being reported.
The council will hold more mega skip days over the coming year, while providing households with two free bulky waste collections annually and keeping weekly waste and recycling collections. It said it will also invest in the borough’s parks, town centres and public spaces to make them safer.
Wandsworth’s proposed band D bill is nearly £1,500 cheaper than that planned for residents in most areas of neighbouring Kingston, which is set to stand at £2,489 in 2025/26.
Residents in the west of Wandsworth subject to the Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators’ (WPCC) levy will pay total council tax of £1,030 in 2025/26. The council will publish a breakdown of the total council tax residents in each band are set to pay in due course.
Labour council leader Simon Hogg said: “We are freezing your council tax for the third year in a row. That means you will continue to pay the lowest council tax in the country.
“Sound financial management 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, allowing us to freeze the main element of council tax and invest in what matters most to you – cleaner streets, safer neighbourhoods and a stronger community. Together, we’re making Wandsworth an even better place to live.”
The plans will be considered by the council’s finance committee on February 25, before a final decision is made by the executive on March 3.
