Leader of the Council invites residents to ask their questions about Council tax  

Leader of the Council invites residents to ask their questions about Council tax  

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Ruth Dombey, will be hosting a livestream on Thursday 2 March to answer questions from residents about the council's proposals to increase council tax this year. 

The event will be hosted online via the council’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. 

Event details: 

Hear from the Leader of the Council about what your council tax does for Sutton. Ask any questions you have about your council tax and our budget.

Thursday 2 March 2023 

7pm - 8pm

Via Facebook or YouTube Live Stream

Submit your question by filling in this form in advance or ask live on the night. 

The setting of the council budget comes at a time of significant instability within the UK and global economy. With inflation at over 10%, this is putting further pressure on the Council’s costs. With over 70% of our funding coming from council tax, the expectation from the Government is for councils to increase council tax by 4.99% in order to fund vital frontline services that people rely on. 

The Council is therefore proposing to increase council tax by 2.99% - well below the current rate of inflation. Sutton will also increase the 2% adult social care charge proposed by central government to ensure that services to the most vulnerable are maintained. 

Councillor Ruth Dombey, Leader of the Council, said: 

“More and more people are choosing to make Sutton their home because it is welcoming, safe, green and has some of the best schools in London.

“To meet the needs of our growing population, we are investing in our borough’s future with our latest budget plans by building new homes, creating new jobs via the London Cancer Hub in Belmont and regenerating Sutton town centre, along with improved parks, roads and street lighting. 

“We know how much our residents are struggling with the rising cost of bills and food. Everyone is having to make really tough choices. That’s why after more than ten years of government funding cuts, this budget focuses on investing in our future, supporting Sutton residents most in need and ensuring the Council’s continued financial sustainability. 

“We are taking the difficult decision to raise council tax because high inflation is affecting our costs and services, but we still want to protect our most vulnerable residents. Government funding for Sutton is not keeping up with what’s needed and the Government has made it very clear that it expects us to cover more of our costs by taxing our residents.

“This proposed increase is still well below inflation and I believe that this budget - combined with the savings proposed - will help us to navigate the financial challenges of the coming year, without cutting services to those who need them the most.

“If any Sutton resident is struggling to pay their council tax, please get in touch about our council tax support scheme and other cost of living help the Council can offer. More information is available at sutton.gov.uk/benefits.”

• You can view and review our full Budget papers.