Title

FINANCE

EXCLUSIVE: Tory council mulls referendum on 16% tax rise

Surrey CC is understood to be considering holding a referendum to increase council tax by 16% as it attempts to grapple with an increasingly desperate financial situation.

Surrey CC is understood to be considering holding a referendum to increase council tax by 16% as it attempts to grapple with an increasingly desperate financial situation.

Two separate well-placed sources have confirmed that the Conservative authority – which has had to draw down £24.8m of reserves in an attempt to tackle a widening funding gap – has been in talks about tabling the proposal in the new year. 

A spokesman for the council refused to rule out the prospect of a referendum.

He insisted the council's current focus was on convincing ministers of the need to adequately fund essential services, adding: ‘We have been talking to ministers about the unfairness being meted out to the residents of Surrey.

‘We trust that the Government will recognise that continuous annual cuts to Surrey's funding while demand and costs have continued to rise cannot continue.

‘Our attention is on the financial settlement later this month to see what ministers will do to address it.'

The council has reported cuts to learning disability funding of more than £45m, a £24m funding gap for adult social care next year, a £24m gap for special educational needs by 2020 and a £35m gap for the extra school places needed over the next five years.

 

FINANCE

Reorganisation, Reform and devolution

By Ann McGauran | 02 October 2025

Change is rippling through local government, from structural reform and new combined authorities, to health integration and the push for financial sustainabi...

FINANCE

Technology and bold thinking – a winning combination

By Tim Farr | 02 October 2025

In today’s climate, organisations have to be resilient, adaptive and forward-looking in order to survive. And the right leadership is vital to enable this mo...

FINANCE

The essential role of agencies in council's recruitment and retention

By Cieran Donnelly | 02 October 2025

At a time of ongoing change, temporary staff can fulfil a vital role in maintaining the high performance of your organisation – and strategic agency partners...

FINANCE

Beyond winning and losing: leadership lessons for LGR

By Max Wide | 01 October 2025

Max Wide explores the leadership choices posed by reorganisation and reflects on how collaboration, cultural integration and private sector insights can help...

Popular articles by Sam Clayden