Kingston Council leader Kevin Davis has dismissed the Government’s decision to allow authorities to raise council tax to fund adult social care as “plugging a whole” and warned residents the next budget will be the “toughest yet”.
Communities secretary Sajid Javid today told MPs that councils will be able to raise taxes by 6 per cent over the next two years in a bid to make £900m in funding for the country’s crisis-hit social care services.
Kingston councillors gave final approval on Tuesday on plans for disabled and elderly residents to pay all their spare change towards social care – a policy campaigners branded have branded an “attack on the vulnerable”.
Conservative councillor Davis has now warned that central Government policy continues to put pressure on the authority’s budget despite the announcement.
He said: “Six per cent – that does not help us. That is plugging a hole but it’s not actually solving the problem because our population is getting older.
“I just think it’s something that is giving them time to solve the problem. What this is doing is giving them space to find the long term solution.
“It’s a very big ask that we are faced with trying to keep everything in balance. It’s quite a mammoth task, probably the toughest we’ve made yet."
Earlier this year, council tax in Kingston was raised by almost 2 per cent having been slashed from a 4 per cent rise after councillors lobbied the Government for a fairer deal on funding.
Despite this, Kingston Council is racing towards a £4.6m overspend.
Cllr Davis said no announcement on council tax rises or budget policy would be made until mid-January.
- Got a story? Call the newsdesk on 020 8722 6315 or send an email to jonathan.mitchell@london.newsquest.co.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here