Council tax to rise by almost 10 per cent in Slough

Council tax is set to rise in Slough by 9.99 per cent in April.

Cash-strapped Slough Borough Council has confirmed that its request to increase council tax by almost 10 per cent, without a referendum, has been approved by Government

The Labour-run authority has been selling off millions of pounds worth of council-owned land and assets as it looks to pay off borrowing debts which stood at more than £750 million.

But despite this, the local authority says raising council tax by 9.99 per cent for 2023/24 is essential to support its progress towards financial sustainability.

Councillor Rob Anderson, lead member for financial oversight and council assets, said: “Given the need to get the council back on a sound financial footing and with inflation over 10 per cent, this increase was unavoidable if we wanted to protect our services.

“We are not alone in this and a number of other authorities have done the same.

“As a result of this increase we will now bring forward a more generous Council Tax Support scheme to help protect those most in need.”

The local authority said its council tax support scheme will provide financial help for more than 9,000 households in the borough.

The council said it estimates 3,500 households with the lowest incomes will not need to pay any council tax in 2023/24 should their circumstances remain the same.