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Kingston has yet again received a dreadful financial settlement from Gordon Brown’s Labour Government.
Its grant to Kingston will increase by only 1.5% - the lowest it can give - and not the 4% that Labour claims all councils are receiving.
However, because of the increase of the number of residents, it actually results in a decrease of the grant per person (see box below).
Last year, Kingston’s tax rise was kept to the lowest for 14 years, at 3.5%. Yet, during a recession the Council has to meet extra demands and financial pressures - if services for Kingston’s most vulnerable, elderly and children are to be protected.
So, with Labour cutting Kingston’s grant, a tax rate like last year would still require £8 million of savings - that’s over 6% of the Council’s total budget.
How Labour's grant hits us
Kingston is one of the most efficient councils in London. It spends only £726 per head -while the London average is £923.
However, the Council receives only £231 per head from the Government grant - less than half the London average of £546.
So 69% of finance in Kingston has to be raised through Council Tax - compared to 42.5% average for London.
How Labour's grant for Kingston compares
| Borough | Government grant per person 09/10 | Government grant per person 10/11 | % change 09/10 to 10/11 |
| Wandsworth | £532 | £583 | Increase 9.6% |
| Hammersmith & Fulham | £673 | £702 | Increase 4.3% |
| Kingston | £232 | £231 | Decrease 0.4% |
Join our campaign for a fair deal for Kingston, by signing the petition.
I support the campaign, led by the Liberal Democrat Focus Team, for central Government to give Kingston Council a fair grant settlement.
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