Kingston council tax: why are residents paying 5% more for services that are getting worse?

Kingston residents will pay 4.99% more council tax from April 2026. For a Band D household, that is £1,847 per year — roughly £35.50 per week. The council says it had no choice. But the numbers deserve scrutiny.

The budget gap they cannot close

The council's own Medium Term Financial Strategy admits to an £18 million budget gap over four years. Despite eight years of Liberal Democrat control, the gap is widening, not shrinking. The question residents should be asking: if the council has been "financially prudent" as Leader Cllr Andreas Kirsch claims, why is the shortfall getting bigger?

Where is the money actually going?

Adult social care consumes the largest share — and costs are rising at 6-7% annually while council tax rises are capped at 5%. This is a structural problem that no amount of "efficiency savings" can fix. Temporary accommodation for homeless families is another pressure point, with the council spending millions housing people in expensive emergency placements rather than building enough affordable homes.

What you are not being told

The budget was passed unanimously. Not a single councillor voted against it. In a healthy democracy, you would expect the opposition to challenge the figures, propose alternatives, or at least force a recorded vote. Instead, the budget sailed through. Residents deserve to know why.

The adult social care precept trick

The 4.99% increase is presented as 2.99% general plus 2% adult social care precept. The precept was introduced by central government to allow councils to raise extra money specifically for social care. But it means your council tax bill effectively has two increases baked in, and the precept has been applied every single year since it was introduced. It is now a permanent feature of your bill, not an emergency measure.

What can you do?

Council tax bills land in March. If you are on a low income, check if you qualify for the council tax reduction scheme. And regardless of your income, you can and should ask your councillors to explain exactly how your money is being spent. Use Council Watch to message them directly — every response (or lack of response) is tracked publicly.