The news that Londoners didn’t want to hear is that council tax is set to go up even more than we expected. That’s right: along with the increases in fuel and food bills, the amount of council tax going to City Hall is set for a hefty increase, by up to £40 a year on average.
It’s all to do with the City Hall precept, that is, the sum that the Mayor’s office takes, over and above the normal services provided by local authorities. That goes chiefly to police, the fire brigade and Transport for London: all essential services that need extra funding to deal with the challenges they face. It’s not wholly surprising, given the increase in inflation and wage costs, but it sits uneasily with the Mayor’s indignation at the cost-of-living crisis affecting Londoners.
