Bankrupt council's tax to increase by nearly 10%

Woking Borough Council has voted to increase its share of council tax by 9.9% from 1 April.

The increase was passed as part of the annual budget at an extraordinary full council meeting on Monday.

The Liberal Democrat-run authority effectively declared itself bankrupt in June 2023 with debts of £2bn.

Council tax in Woking is paid with fees for the parish councils, emergency services and Surrey County Council, which is imposing an increase of 4.99%.

Under normal circumstances Woking's increase of its share of council tax would be limited to 2.99%, but the government gave permission for that figure to be exceeded in the financial year 2024/25.

It means a Band D household will pay £289.43 a year, an annual increase of £26.31, for Woking's share of the council tax.

Woking BC It will receive a £785m government bailout as a result of increasing council tax and £8.4m cuts to services.

Council leader Ann-Marie Barker said: “I know residents will find any increase in Council Tax difficult which is why we are putting in place support for those who find it hard to meet the cost of rising bills.

“These critical decisions are ones I did not want to make. However, they are necessary if we are to continue to provide essential services, set a balanced budget in future years and begin to return Woking to long-term financial sustainability.

“The future remains difficult and challenging. I am determined that Woking will recover to become a better council focused on delivering essential services to local people.”

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