Council Tax 2019-20

Introduction

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Our budget this year will focus resource on those who need it most and what matters to communities. This means the overall budget of £134.5m will concentrate on vital services to support our vulnerable children and adults and services in the community.

It was agreed at Full Council (26 February) to raise council tax by 2.99%, with an additional 2% to support Adult Social Care. The total increase in council tax for 2019-20 will be 4.99% to meet the needs of a growing population and offset reducing funding from government. The Kingston element of the increase is equivalent to approximately £1.40 a week extra for a Band D household.

Over the last four years we have saved £57m with your help, but we need to go further to meet the challenges ahead. Here are some stats and facts about our borough:

  • We received £66m of general funding from Central Government in 2010. This has been reducing year on year and we no longer receive any.

  • Kingston has reported a £1.2m forecast overspend for 2018/19. 

  • We need to save £12.1m this year. 

  • We have a growing population in Kingston, which has increased by 20,000 since 2011 and is now at 179,600.

  • There continues to be pressures on social care and special educational needs and disability (SEND) services as a result of growing numbers of children in need and our ageing local population.

  • The elderly population has grown from 20,500 in 2011 to 24,300 in 2018 and is projected to reach 32,000 by 2030.

  • Over the next four years it is estimated that costs for Adult Social Care services will be over £7m more than we currently spend.

  • Adult Social Care amounts to 40% of our total expenditure and this rises to over 60% when you include other vulnerable groups such as the homeless and those with a disability.