Woodley Town Council has raised its council tax by 9.75% — nearly 10% — after three years of freezes. That works out as an extra 87p a month for households in Band D and will pay for local services including the Oakwood Centre, Woodford Park and Coronation Hall.
The increase was agreed at a full council meeting on 10 February, with only councillors Carol Jewell and Beth Rowland (both Liberal Democrats, South Lake South) abstaining.
Council leader Keith Baker (Conservative, Coronation East) told councillors the rise was forced by “probably the most significant financial stress this council has in an extremely long time.” He thanked officers for the data that underpinned the decision and said difficult choices had been needed.
Baker reminded members the Conservatives have run the council for 14 years. Over that time, he said, town council tax was only raised four times, with zero increases on ten occasions and reductions over the last three years. By contrast, he said Wokingham Town Council has increased its town council tax every year and Earley council has raised theirs 12 times.
Baker said utility and staff costs have driven the shortfall. He gave figures for the last two years: electricity up 41% (an extra £20,700), gas up 18% (£6,100), water up 95% (nearly double, £48,100) and national insurance up 56% (£43,400). “Add all those things together, and that’s a total of £118,300 additional cost. This is to effectively stand still,” he said.
He added that those extra costs are the equivalent of a 10.6% increase in the town council precept just to stand still, before factoring in staff pay rises or inflation.
Officers drew up a balanced budget, Baker said, by increasing income, reducing expenditure and using some of the general reserves.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
