Mayor to push London council tax precept above 500 to fund policing and rail plans

"In total, the Mayor is proposing that council tax increases by an additional £20.13 a year for an average Band D household, subject to final approvals next month. Consequently, the Band D council tax payable in the 32 London boroughs (the adjusted precept) is proposed to increase by 4.1% from £490.38 in 2025-26 to £510.51 in 2026-27. That means for an average Band D resident, the Mayor's precept on their council tax will break the £500 barrier for the first time."

"If approved, Londoners will fund the Mayor's spending budget to the tune of £1.66 billion, of which just over £1 billion will be spent on policing and crime prevention, in addition to Home Office funding for the police of £2.9 billion. Around £251 million will go to TfL, and a similar amount to the London Fire Brigade. The draft budget also confirms that the Department for Transport will compensate TfL for the loss of income arising from its 2026 fares decision, providing £90 million in direct funding to TfL for the 2026-27 to 2028-29 fares cycle."

"In other transport news, a package of £400,000 is being allocated to the OPDC to continue work on getting the West London Orbital railway business case ready for submission to the government. Although the Mayor raises £1.66 billion from Londoners in the council tax precept, the GLA's total expenditure is much higher, at £22.7 billion, because it includes TfL revenues and other sources, such as government funding for the police, investments, and other sources."

The Mayor proposes increasing the GLA precept on London's council tax by £20.13 a year for an average Band D household, raising the Band D precept from £490.38 to £510.51 (a 4.1% increase). The council tax rise would fund £1.66 billion of the Mayor's spending, with just over £1 billion allocated to policing and crime prevention alongside £2.9 billion of Home Office police funding. Around £251 million is earmarked for TfL and a similar amount for the London Fire Brigade. The Department for Transport will provide £90 million to compensate TfL for 2026 fares income loss, and £400,000 is allocated to progress the West London Orbital business case. Total GLA expenditure is £22.7 billion, reflecting additional TfL revenues and other funding sources.

Read at ianVisits