main content Mayor's burden for Council tax payers

With the Mayor of London’s proposal to raise his share of the council tax by 16 per cent, there is concern about the impact on the bills of council tax payers in Bromley as well as London as a whole. If approved, such a rise would mean that Londoners in Band D properties would see the amount they pay to the Mayor and the Greater London Authority rise by £42, from £255 to £297.

Already the amount paid to the Mayor and the Greater London Authority makes up 23.3% of Band D council tax bills in Bromley and with the proposed increase this is set to rise.

Said Council Leader, Councillor Stephen Carr: “It is hard to understand that at a time when the government is threatening to cap local authorities who do not control their spending there is no similar brake on the spending powers of the Mayor. As a Council we are proud of how we manage our finances and that we have kept our Council tax bills to the lowest in outer London and we would welcome the Mayor exercising the same level of control. I know part of the increase is attributed to the Olympics. But this will be a great event for the whole country, not just London and the Government must set a limit on the amount of spending to be borne by Londoners in their council tax bills.

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Notes to editors:

• The Mayor’s final draft budget for 2006/7 will be presented to Greater London Authority on 15 February 2006.
• The Council will set its bills for the coming twelve months on 20 March 2006.
• For media enquiries, please contact amanda.day@bromley.gov.uk on 020 8313 4390