Wandsworth Council announces record council tax increase

A London borough has announced plans for a record increase in council tax from next year.

Wandsworth Council is set to increase council tax for a Band D property by £958 - a 94% rise - from April 2027, in response to what it describes as the "financial pressure" of government reforms.

The south London borough previously had one of the lowest council tax rates in Britain. However, following the publication of what it calls a "comprehensive" spending review, the Conservative administration says the government's Fair Funding reforms will reduce Wandsworth's funding by £84m a year.

Check how much your council tax is set to rise

The authority claims the reduction is equivalent to its combined total annual spend on parks, libraries, leisure centres, bin collection and street cleaning.

It says that new spending reforms will place "significant additional pressure on essential local services and means the council must make tough choices".

'Savage cuts'

Council leader Robert Morritt, who took over the role in July, admitted that increasing council tax was not a decision he "ever wanted us to have to make", but said the announcement was being made now to ensure "local people have the maximum amount of time to adjust".

He blamed the increase on "savage cuts from central government" and "a dramatic reduction" in the council's level of reserves.

Commenting on the outcomes of the spending review, Mr Morritt said the council was "setting out a clear plan to protect the services residents rely on while tackling the financial challenges facing the council".

He said that "difficult decisions" had been taken in a bid to help ensure that services "remain sustainable into the future".

Mr Morritt added: "There are difficult choices in this report, but there are also clear priorities: cleaner streets, safer communities, stronger housing services, support for vulnerable residents and action to put the council back on a sustainable financial footing."

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Peter Graham, deputy leader of Wandsworth Council and cabinet member for finance, said: "We promised that we'd be honest with residents.

"Council tax will need to rise unless government thinks again. And it must think again.

"We do not want to do this, and we do not take this decision lightly, but the scale of the financial pressure facing Wandsworth means additional income is now needed to protect the services people rely on."

Mr Graham insisted that the council was "fighting" for a "fairer deal", and that Wandsworth should not be "punished" for "running efficient services and keeping council tax low".

He added: "Our message to residents is clear: we are on your side, we are making your case, and we will keep fighting for the funding Wandsworth deserves."

(c) Sky News 2026: Wandsworth Council announces record council tax increase