Wandsworth Council Increases Tax Bills by Two Per Cent
Freezes the charge for general services for fourth year in a row
Council leader Simon Hogg signals the fourth year the discretionary portion of tax bills has been frozen. Picture: YouTube
February 12, 2026
Wandsworth Council has confirmed plans to only hike council tax by 2 per cent for the fourth year in a row, despite having special powers to raise the bill by more than 5 per cent.
The authority is set to freeze its core share of the bill, which funds general services, and raise the adult social care precept by 2 per cent in April, meaning average band D households can expect to pay £1,028.21 in 2026/27.
The Labour-run authority said Wandsworth’s council tax will continue to be the lowest in the country, if the plans are approved. Wandsworth is one of six local authorities with the power to raise council tax by more than 4.99 per cent in 2026 and 2027 without the usual requirement to hold a referendum.
The Government gave the councils this option in December as they are set to see their share of central funding decrease under local authority funding reforms, which are due to come into force in April, in a bid to shift more cash towards areas with higher deprivation.
But Labour council leader Simon Hogg said the authority would not use this power as it was “the right thing to keep council tax as low as we can”.
Councillor Hogg said, “Value for money is at the heart of everything we do. Wandsworth has one of the lowest levels of debt and some of the highest financial reserves in London. This allows us to freeze the main element of council tax, keep more money in your pocket and invest in what matters to you.”
Band D households in most areas of Wandsworth can expect to see their total council tax rise by £30.28 to £1,020.35 in 2026/27 – including Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s levy, which is due to increase by £20.13 to £510.50 to help fund police, fire and transport.
Residents who are subject to the Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators (WPCC) levy must pay slightly more, with band D households set to pay £1,061.73 over the year.
Overall, this means the bill for average band D households across Wandsworth is set to rise by £30.46 to £1,028.21 in 2026/27.
A new report by council officers said the authority would deliver better services while keeping council tax low, as it was committed to helping residents struggling with the high cost of living. Labour has led the authority since winning the local elections in May 2022, after 44 years of Conservative control.
The report said: “We can do this because we put value for money at the heart of everything we do to correct decades of underinvestment. Wandsworth runs excellent services with some of the highest reserves and lowest debt of any London borough, ensuring our financial stability without burdening our residents.
“The new Government funding allocations do disadvantage Wandsworth, but our sound financial management allows us to respond without adding additional burden on Wandsworth residents.”
The report added the council would “continue to deliver sound financial management through smarter and efficient service delivery, making property developers pay to improve our streets and facilities, and setting up partnerships to deliver excellent services to residents at no extra cost”.
The council has allocated a net total of £309.4 million to spend on services for residents in 2026/27.
The report said the budget would allow the authority to continue providing free weekly food waste collections, cost-of-living support and free or discounted access to services and activities under its Access for All scheme. It also pledged to continue investing in parks, resurface roads and pavements and maintain a strong CCTV network across the borough.
The plans will be considered by the council’s finance committee on February 18, before a final decision is made by the executive on March 4.
Charlotte Lillywhite - Local Democracy Reporter