Windsor and Maidenhead Residents Face Potential 25% Council Tax Increase

Residents in Windsor and Maidenhead may face a 25% increase in council tax later this year. Simon Werner, leader of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead’s (RBWM) council, stated that he and his colleagues inherited a “horror show” and that additional funds were necessary to prevent what he described as effective bankruptcy. He added that despite the authority having made “difficult decisions” in the past 18 months, it would be required to “continue to make tough calls.” Currently, residents paying council tax for a Band D property within the council’s jurisdiction pay approximately £1,700 annually, whereas similar properties in Newbury incur a charge of around £2,300 per year. Mr. Werner, along with other Liberal Democrats and independents leading RBWM, has requested government approval to increase council tax by 20% beyond the existing 4.99% cap. They attributed an annual cost of approximately £30m to the authority due to previous Conservative leaders’ decisions to cut and freeze council tax. For individuals residing in a Band D property, this would translate to a £320 increase in their council tax. Nevertheless, even with this increase, the charge in Windsor and Maidenhead might remain below that of other Berkshire boroughs. The government’s decision regarding the proposed council tax increase may not be announced until the end of February, potentially leaving only a few days before the authority is mandated to finalize its budget. Should this occur, the council might still be compelled to declare effective bankruptcy. On Wednesday, some Windsor residents expressed dissatisfaction with the council and the prospective charges. David Shefford, a town resident, commented: “[Council tax] keeps going up and up all the time and your wages and your pension don’t go up. It’s a disgrace really.” He further stated: “I used to clean the streets in Windsor. Go down to the river [Thames] and have a look at the state of the place down there – it’s filthy, it’s a disgrace and that’s what we’re paying for.” Richard Micallef indicated that while he could manage the increase, the possibility of it occurring was “annoying.” He remarked: “Windsor is all about tourism. They forget the people that live here. The locals are forgotten about.” Micallef added: “They don’t seem to look after the roads, they’re just basically not looking after anything… everything seems to be collapsing but they all want more money.” He questioned: “When are they going to start looking after the people that live here rather than worrying about the people that want to visit here?” Lynne Jones, RBWM’s deputy leader, attributed Windsor’s “deterioration” to “council tax has been artificially low,” asserting that the revenue generated “cannot cope” with the rising demand for services. She claimed: “There is a structural deficit that has taken place over a decade.” She also mentioned that the council intends to “shield” specific groups from the rise. According to Jones, “The most vulnerable people will not see that hike this year.” While councils are technically unable to declare bankruptcy, they possess the ability to issue a section 114 notice, which prohibits any new expenditure. Following such a notice, they are required to present a revised, affordable budget within 21 days. Nottingham, Birmingham, and Woking are among the local authorities that have previously issued section 114 notices.