Council Tax Concern

Kingston is NOT in east London. Ministers confirmed their geographical "U-turn" this month.

This change affects your council tax - so it's important!

Some estimates suggest, over the next 3 years, Kingston will get £5 million more in grant than the borough would have done, if we had not campaigned, and won, to stop Ministers "moving" Kingston to east London.

I wish other decisions on Kingston's grant had been so good.

For, after that bit of good news, the rest is worrying.

Kingston's grant increase is one of the lowest in the country.

It would have been equal lowest, if we'd not won the "east" fight.

Ministers are effectively saying, "the Kingston council taxpayer should shoulder more of the cost of council services".

By giving Kingston less grant per resident than almost every other London borough, this government, like its Conservative predecessor, is imposing a "stealth" tax rise.

Believe it or not, Kingston is one of London's lowest spending councils. Kingston also delivers its services better than most other London Boroughs - so say the independent Audit Commission.

So why is Kingston's council tax so high? Why is it likely to go up by too much, again?

Council tax is such an unfair tax, hitting pensioners in particular. I hope our local council will do their best to minimise the rise. Government has given them a tough job.

Read about the campaign for a fair grant for Kingston.