Sadiq Khan looks set to hike London council tax bills by nearly 10 per cent in an attempt to better fund the Metropolitan Police.
The average bill will see an aditional £38.55 added on top of their pre-existing sum, an increase of 9.7 per cent.
It is the largest increase London has seen since Sadiq Khan took charge, beating last year’s increase of 8.8 per cent.
This translates to an average London household paying £434 to the Greater London Authority.
This is on top of paying out to the household’s borough council.
Deputy leader of the GLA Conservatives Peter Fortune said: “Londoners will be deeply concerned about the rising cost of Khan this year, as once again he hits people with extortionate tax rises.
“Sadiq Khan will have increased council tax by 57 per cent since he was elected, an eye-watering and unaffordable cost of living burden for so many people.”
Initially, Khan said he was expecting a rise of £27.89, but less than two months later this has risen by over £10.
He was given permission by the Government to increase the amount for police, fire services and TfL.
Speaking to the Standard he explained: “I have got to be honest with Londoners.
The average bill will see an aditional £38.55 added on top of their preexisting sum, an increase of 9.7 per cent.
Kirsty O'Connor
“Unless we increase the precept to the maximum the Government is telling us to do so, we will have less money for police, less for the fire service and we will have to remove free travel for children and free travel for over 60s.”
Justifying the raise he explained: “They are saying, not just to regional government like me, but to councils: ‘You have got to replenish some of the money we are cutting by raising council tax.’
“If we don’t increase council tax by the amount the Government has given us discretion to do so, the Government punish us in two ways.
“They reduce the amount of revenue we receive next year… and it also reduces the [funding] base we have in subsequent years.
“That is why you are going to find the vast majority of councils and metro mayors having to increase the precept by amount allowed. I have not made my decision yet but that is the reality of the last few years.”
Khan is expected to confirm his decision in the coming weeks.
Khan said he had to be "honest" with Londoners as he looked set to hike prices.
Kirsty O'Connor
