Surrey county councillors approve 4.99% tax rise

Surrey residents in a typical band D household will pay at least an extra £87.76 in council tax for the financial year from April.

The 4.99% increase to Surrey County Council's share of the overall bill was approved by councillors at an annual budget meeting earlier.

The rise is normally the maximum amount allowed without a referendum, although the government has allowed six local authorities to bypass the cap.

Tim Oliver, Surrey County Council's Conservative leader, said the circumstances in which the budget had been set were "more challenging than ever," due to inflation and rising costs.

He said: "I recognise that any increase in council tax is hard to stomach for many of our residents who are feeling the pinch.

"But I give them this guarantee - every penny of your council tax is spent on improving the county of Surrey."

As well as a council tax rise of 2.99%, the adult social care precept is to go up by 2%.

People living in band D properties will pay £1,846.35 a year to fund services at Surrey County Council, while those in band H, the highest band, will pay £3,692.70.

Opposition parties mainly voted against the proposals, with the council's Liberal Democrat group leader Paul Follows describing it as a "balanced budget on paper only".

There were also calls to do more to support children with special educational needs, improve the youth service, fix potholes and tackle climate change.

An amendment to reinstate funding for the council's Greener Futures programme, due to an announcement on money for councils from the government on Monday, received cross party support.

Several councillors raised concerns about the lack of an update on the government's Devolution White Paper, published in December, which outlined plans to scrap two-tier councils and replace them with strategic authorities and an overseeing mayor.

A rise of 4.3%, which is £14 for a band D property, to help fund policing in Surrey was agreed on Monday, while Surrey's 11 district and borough councils are still to set their bills.

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