Surrey County Council 'considering referendum on 16 per cent council tax increase' to offset 'severe' government cuts, Liberal Democrat opposition claims

Surrey County Council is considering plans to put the “large” increase to a public vote, the party claims.

A council spokesman said “severe” government cuts to the county’s funding for learning disability, adult social care and special educational needs had created “huge financial pressure” but that it's focus was on convincing government to adequately fund the county.

The average Surrey resident according to house value – those living in Band D properties – paid £1,268.28 in 2016/17. A 16 per cent increase would see these residents paying an additional £202.92.

From December: Surrey County Council forced to dip into 'largest ever use of reserves' to address £15 million overspend

Under current rules, the county council can only raise its share the tax by an additional 4.99 per cent each year – 3 per cent of which is ring-fenced for adult social care – and must hold a referendum if it wishes to raise a larger amount.

The council was last month forced to use £24.8 million of reserves – its largest ever use of reserves – after blowing its budget by £15 million this year.

A council spokesman would not confirm or deny speculation of an impending referendum on increasing council tax, but said the council had pleaded with government ministers to stop “continuous annual cuts to Surrey’s funding”.

Cllr Hazel Watson (pictured above), leader of the Liberal Democrat councillors on Surrey County Council, said: "We oppose a proposal to increase the council tax above the threshold to trigger a referendum of Surrey residents.

From November: Surrey County Council turns down 80 per cent of social care request due to 'huge financial strain'

From December: Surrey carer support groups face uncertain future after Surrey County Council's contract award to Action for Carers Surrey means hub closures​

“Firstly, there is a national crisis in the funding of adult social care, which needs a long-term solution from the government not a temporary sticking plaster, which is what a large council tax rise would offer.

From September: Poorest to be 'seriously impacted' by changes to Surrey County Council's adult social care service charges

“Secondly, a council tax increase would hit the elderly and those on fixed-incomes hardest – it would be quite wrong for the Conservative administration to try and shift this funding problem onto Surrey residents.

“Rather than floating this ill-thought out proposal, the Conservative administration at county hall should concentrate on getting more funding for adult social care from the government and cutting its own wasteful spending.

“Surrey residents should not have to pick up the bill for the county council's financial mess".

From December 2016: Task force set up to help Surrey County Council reduce 'appalling' multi-million pound agency bill

A Surrey County Council spokesman said: “Despite the government’s announcement of some extra money for social care there remains huge financial pressure on Surrey County Council’s budgets but our focus remains on convincing ministers of the need to adequately fund essential services.

Surrey County Hall. Pic credit: Jon Sharman

“We have been talking to ministers about the unfairness being meted out to the residents of Surrey when our funding for learning disability has been cut severely even though demand is going up, when funding for adult social care is failing to keep pace with rising demand and when our funding gap for special educational needs continuous to rise.

“We trust that the government will recognise that continuous annual cuts to Surrey’s funding while demand and costs continue to rise must stop and we are urging ministers to accept that they need to take appropriate action to address it.”

The Epsom Guardian contacted Surrey County Council’s Conservative group for comment before Christmas.

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