Wandsworth plans to remove low-income council tax exemption

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 12:33 · Archive

Wandsworth Council plans to remove council tax exemption for low-income residents while raising bills by 94 per cent.

Wandsworth Council plans to remove full council tax exemptions for low-income residents whilst proposing a 94 per cent increase in total bills from April. Band D bills would rise by £958 from £1,020 to £1,978 annually. The council said the changes are necessary because central funding is due to be slashed by £84 million a year by 2030.

The Conservative-run authority proposes ending 100 per cent council tax discounts for working-age households receiving disability-related benefits or attendance allowance, or those with no earned income and a child under three. The reduction in support would be phased over four years, with the scheme costing £7.1 million by 2030–31. The council said it would be financially unsustainable to maintain current discounts if the proposed hike went ahead.

Cabinet member for finance Peter Graham said that without removing the 100 per cent discounts, the cost of the scheme would double and council tax would need to rise further. He stated: 'Everyone will now pay something, which was the case in the past, but no one will have to face a large one-off increase.' The council plans to extend some support to low-income working households currently outside the scheme. Labour opposition leader Simon Hogg described the proposed changes as 'hugely concerning'. A consultation on the proposals is to be launched.

How it is being reported

• Plans to axe council tax exemption for low-income in Wandsworth 'appallingly unfair'Plans to axe council tax exemption for low-income residents in South London have been slammed as 'appallingly unfair'.This Is Local London · 14 Oct, 12:10
• Low-income Wandsworth residents face losing council tax exemptionIt comes as the authority plans a 94 per cent hike in council tax billsMyLondon · 14 Oct, 10:30

In this story: Wandsworth Council · Peter Graham · Simon Hogg · Wandsworth

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