The people of Wandsworth are set to pay the lowest average Council Tax in the country as councillors plan to decrease shares by one per cent.

This week, it was reported that half of London boroughs will be raising council tax by over £70 per household including the GLA increase.

On Wednesday (February 23), at a meeting of the finance, resources and climate sustainability overview and scrutiny committee, councillors proposed a net one per cent decrease in Wandsworth’s share of council tax.

This in contrast with the Mayor of London, who is proposing to increase his share of council tax by 8.8 per cent, meaning its precept will rise by £31.93 a year.

This takes Wandsworth’s overall average Band D council tax bill for the entire year to £872.55 - of which £395.59 is payable to the Mayor.

The report will now be considered at the next Executive meeting on February 28, before going onto to the full council meeting on March 9.

Ravi Govindia, leader of the Council said the “most important” thing Wandsworth Council could do for residents, was to “make sure” they continue to get value for money by paying the lowest council tax while getting high quality services.

Ravi Govindia said: “We are really proud of our decades-long record of making sure that the residents of Wandsworth pay the lowest average council tax and I’m proud to be leading the only London council likely to cut council tax this year.

“I know the impact that the pandemic has had on our residents and when you factor in the current cost of living difficulties that people are facing, with rising heating and fuel bills, we just couldn’t, as a local council, heap further financial burdens onto people who are already struggling.

“Wandsworth is in a unique position to be able to do this because of the way we have managed our finances and budgets over the years.

“That efficiency is now reaping the benefits for our residents with a net decrease in their council tax bills from April.”

Cabinet member for finance, corporate resources and climate sustainability councillor Kim Caddy, said: “Low council tax is synonymous with Wandsworth because of the efforts this council goes to in looking after its money properly and most importantly of all looking out for our residents.

“We hope that these proposals will really help make a difference and help residents keep their household costs down as we all continue to emerge from the pandemic.”

Wandsworth Labour leader Simon Hogg said: "Wandsworth Labour backs the plan to cut Council Tax next year, saving local people money in the Conservative cost of living crisis.

"Council Tax in unfair, it hurts renters, older people and those on modest incomes. Keeping it low is the right thing to do.

"If we win the council in May, we'll open up the books, cancel wasteful contracts and make the council's assets work harder.

"We will spend every pound of public money wisely."