Surrey County Council agrees 4.99% tax rise

Residents in Surrey will see a rise in their council tax bills after the county council approved its last ever budget.

At a meeting on Tuesday, Conservative leader Tim Oliver said the budget had been "prepared in the most challenging of circumstances".

Surrey County Council's (SCC) tax increase of 4.99% means people living in a typical Band D property will pay £92.07 extra per year from April.

One hundred and thirty-seven years after it was founded, this is the last time SCC will pass an annual budget due to a major shake-up of local government which will see councils merged and two new unitary authorities set up in 2027.

Oliver criticised the amount of funding Surrey was receiving from the government as part of a new finance settlement for councils.

"Is it right that by 2028 92% of the income into this county will be raised through council tax - a shift from the current year of 77%?" he said. "No, it isn't.

"However, despite the devastatingly poor settlement from government and the national headwinds, we are bringing forward a balanced budget for the coming year."

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has been approached for a comment.

The Conservative group, who have been a minority administration since August, passed the proposals with support from Green, Reform UK, Residents' Association and Independent councillors.

The budget was opposed by the Liberal Democrats and Labour.

Meanwhile plans to increase council tax by 4.4% - £15 a year for Band D properties - to help fund police services will be discussed at the Surrey Police and Crime Panel on Wednesday, following a proposal by Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend.

Eleven borough and district councils, as well as parish and town councils, will also decide on whether there should be council tax rises between now and the end of March.

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