Conservative politician Kemi Badenoch has said she will instruct lawyers to challenge the central government after Wandsworth Council, which is run by the Conservative Party, announced a 94% rise in council tax. The decision by the local authority, and its attribution of the increase to reductions in government funding, has triggered a widening political dispute.
Wandsworth Council defended the scale of the rise by pointing to cuts in grants and financial support from the national government, saying the changes left it little alternative but to pass costs on to local taxpayers. The council’s explanation has been at the centre of the controversy, prompting questions about responsibility for local public services and local tax levels.
Badenoch’s move to engage legal advisers signals an escalation in the disagreement, with the prospect of a formal challenge to government policy and funding arrangements. Details of the intended legal action and the legal grounds for a challenge have not been published by her office.
Background
Local authorities across the country often balance income from central grants, business rates and council tax. In recent years, some councils have cited reductions in central funding as a factor when raising local taxes or cutting services. The Wandsworth announcement has become a focal point for debate over how responsibilities and funding are shared between national and local government.
It is not yet clear how quickly any legal action will proceed or what immediate effect it would have on the council’s planned tax changes. Residents and local groups are awaiting further detail from both the council and Badenoch about next steps and the potential implications for services and household bills.