LibDem-run Kingston Council forced through their budget at a meeting of the full Council on the 27th February 2025. The response from Conservative Councillor Rowena Bass was as follows:
Thank you, Madam Mayor for letting me speak and I would also like to thank officers for their help and the briefings they gave us.
This is yet another disappointing budget from the LDs. With a maximum council tax rate rise for 5% AGAIN and further decline in services. This is on top of a predicted overspend for the current financial year of £10m.
Council must not forget that major projects such as the Cambridge Road Estate regeneration were initiatives started by the last Conservatives administration. Cox Crescent in New Malden remains undeveloped despite plans being at an advanced stage in 2018. Residents are down to just one aging council swimming pool for the whole of the borough with plans only just approved for Leisure Centre replacement, over five years after our Kingfisher Leisure Centre was knocked down.
I accept that the Labour Government’s NI rise has not been helpful to Council finances with employers NI increase of £1.6m budgeted for council employed staff resulting in a net cost of £140,000 after compensation from the government. Infortunately, addition NI on contracted out services will not be reimbursed by the government - the max impact of this of £3,500,000 - this has not been included in the budget, only shown as a risk.
This budget increases Council Tax for a Band D property to £2,528 up from £1,771 when the LibDems took over in 2018, an increase of 43%. Even Band B properties are close to £2,000 for the first time across the borough. All at a time when many Kingston residents are struggling financially not helped by the Labour Gov’s growth destroying budget. Pensioners struggling due to higher taxes and costs including the removal of the winter fuel payment, many parents having to find an extra 20% for VAT on school fees, and businesses and consumers impacted by the increase in NI.
Conservatives are clearly the only party locally to aspire to minimise Council Tax rises for our hardworking residents. Under the LibDems Kingston’s Council Tax is one of highest in London with council services are declining and fees to residents increasing year on year. We are proud of our record in holding council tax down three out of the four years we were last in administration.
You will remember the heavy rains just this Monday. I was called to visit a resident to see the flooding on Coombe Lane West. Coombe Lane was busy with commuters and families walking to the station and school. The pavement was completely flooded in places and pedestrians getting completely drenched by cars driving past. All not helped by the gullies and drains not being sufficiently cleaned. Blocked drains and gullies also exacerbated the situations in Kingston Vale last year when leaking sewage was flowing down the roads. Residents quite rightly expect their council to do the basics, such as street cleaning, to keep gullies clear to help minimise such issues.
Council Services Declining:
A few other examples raised to us by residents:
- Delays in planning and lack of planning enforcement (we had one family visit our ward surgery three times distressed at the delay to their planning application and we regularly get emails from residents dismayed that planning conditions, important to residents, and agreed at planning committees are not enforced.
- State of roads including potholes, yet further cuts to highways maintenance proposed.
- Litter and graffiti everywhere.
- Verges full of weeds.
- Dirty pavements covered in gum.
- Less frequent grass cutting.
- bins are left strewn along pavements on collection days making it impossible for people with pushchairs or disabled / visually impaired people to navigate.
- The list goes on. Residents deserve better for their high council tax – but all these basic services have declined since 2018.
Council Fees increasing across many services, but I just wanted to highlight two:
Parking income is to go up by an unprecedented 24.4% to £12.5m, across carparks, resident parking permits and on street parking bays. More costs for hard pressed residents and I am concerned about the effect on town centre footfall. Local restaurants and pubs are facing a triple whammy: increased business rates as post covid relief is reducing from 75% to 40%, increased NI, and now increased parking costs for customers.
Kingston council to start charging the full cost for bin replacements – residents will now be charged up to £56 for replacing a wheely bin. The response from the council is that apparently, they have no statutory responsibility to provide waste containers!! Though I fail to see how they can carry out their statutory responsibility to collect rubbish without the council issue wheely bins especially as contractors will not collect rubbish if presented in any other way!!
Regarding Schools - the deficit on the DSG relating to the overspend on Special Educational Needs continues to be a major budget risk. The forecast cumulative deficit at the end of December 2024 was £5.7m, despite extra funding of £30m from the last Conservative Government over the last 4 years. The deficit continues to grow and is a concern as no further funds have been secured from the current government.
Some good local news though - Coombe Boys School (part of Coombe Multi Academy Trust) was identified by the last Conservative Government for a complete rebuild to include a new sports and performing arts centre. Work, funded by the DoE, actually stated on site this month!!
Delays in replacement of Town Centre Leisure Centre
- Kingston does not have adequate pool space to ensure all children can learn to swim. It is now difficult for families to enjoy leisure time with their children as only one aging public swimming pool for a population of nearly 170,000 and private gyms too expensive for many families.
- our much-loved Kingfisher Leisure Centre was closed over 5 years ago. Back then myself and other Conservative Cllrs argued for the repair the roof option at £5m to ensure that residents would not be left without a pool for so long. The LDs promised a new pool by Autumn 2023 – well that did not happen!!
- The LDs have wasted time and money on aborted plans. Whilst revised plans have now been approved, delays have resulted in the further costs increases of 13% to £46m. The new plans include virtually no parking.
The LibDems are currently part way through a massive sale of council assets – aiming to realise £40m over 4 years - including selling community halls, green spaces, guildhall buildings, Amy Woodgate House, the Cattle market and Canbury Car Park.
The dreadful plans for the Canbury Car Park site will be an eyesore are not popular with residents. The proposed loss of Kingsgate Road will cause traffic chaos. This is a key site, and the council seems keen to realise the sale, but where is the vision or place shaping for Kingston’s future? Kingston deserves better.
So to sum up – you (LD Administration) promised to listen to residents. However residents are realising time and time again that you are not listening to them.
This is a depressing budget lacking in vision, with further cuts to services, increase charges, and massive sell off of council assets. The Conservative Group cannot support these proposals.
