Council tax claim could 'mislead' residents - UKSA

A south-west London council has been told its claim to have frozen council tax for four years in a row has "the potential to mislead" taxpayers.

The UK Statistics Authority (UKSA) wrote to Wandsworth Council about the claim it made in promotional materials released over the last few months.

In videos, leaflets and press releases, the Labour-run council said it was freezing council tax for the fourth consecutive year, but a precept to fund social care rose last year.

A Wandsworth Council spokesperson said: "We have made it clear in all our communications that the main element is frozen. However, we will reflect on the UKSA's observations and take forward any learning in future communications."

In a letter to the council, the UKSA's interim chairwoman Penny Young said the claim did not meet with the Standard For The Public Use of Statistics, Data And Wider Analysis, which was part of a wider code of practice maintained by the authority.

Wandsworth Council has frozen council tax rates for general services since 2022, when Labour won power in the borough.

But in the latest financial year it has increased a precept to fund social care by 2%, while the Greater London Authority (GLA) also increased tax intake in the borough.

Young said the council had not been clear enough in its communications.

She said: "We find it is likely that people would understand the term 'frozen' to relate to an increase in their total council tax bill.

"While some of Wandsworth Council's communications do refer to 'the main element' of council tax being frozen, they are unclear that residents' council tax bills will still rise by a significant amount due to other local authority charges."

A Wandsworth Labour spokesperson said: "Our communications with residents makes clear we have frozen the main element of council tax.

"Wandsworth Labour sets the lowest council tax in the country, and we are proud to have frozen it for the past four years."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk