Council tax rebate for thousands of households – but rents rise by seven per cent

By Adrian Zorzut, Local Democracy Reporter

Thousands of Kensington and Chelsea residents will receive a reduction in their council tax this year.

The council this week voted to freeze its council tax rates, while also giving a £100 rebate to Band A-D households.

The budget – which was approved during Wednesday’s full council meeting – will see 17,000 households receive the saving.

But the budget also includes rent increases and controversial plans to save £13m in costs by merging jobs and axing existing vacancies.

Many local authorities have been forced to putting up their rates amid soaring inflation and wage costs.

However, the central London council has agreed to balance its books with measures like removing unfilled posts, improving procurement and merging roles in its housing and adult social care departments.

The council claims their measures will not disrupt front line services – however opposition Labour leaders have billed the plans as “gratuitous and ideological cuts,” saying they would include some existing homecare workers being replaced by volunteers and cutting the budget for disability adaptations.

While core council tax rates remain frozen, residents will pay a two per cent increase in the portion of their bill that covers adult social care, providing services to elderly, disabled or vulnerable residents.

Other changes also approved during the March 1 meeting include a seven per cent rise in rent for social housing.

Council bosses say that most councils are putting up their rents by this level – the maximum increase which the government allows – and they have no choice because inflation is running at 11 per cent.

(Picture: Pixabay)