• Council tax for the borough to remain one of the lowest in Surrey
• Council tax increase just 10p per week
• Residents on the lowest council tax band will pay just 6p extra a week
• Ongoing investment in the borough’s future to continue

Epsom & Ewell Borough Council set its budget for 2021/22 yesterday evening (Tuesday 16 February) at a Full Council meeting.

In setting the budget, councillors have agreed a 2.43% increase to council tax (borough council portion) – this is the equivalent of 9.5p per week for the average band D property and the council tax for this borough remains below the average for Surrey. 

The percentage of the overall council tax being paid this year by residents of Epsom and Ewell to the Borough Council will be 10%, Surrey Police will receive 14% and 76% will fund Surrey County Council activities.

The budget was set in the climate of ongoing increased expenditure as the council addresses the pandemic within the borough, including a significant rise in emergency temporary accommodation. The council has also seen a large decrease in commercial income (eg from parking and income from rents) due to COVID-19.

Speaking at the Budget Meeting Councillor Eber Kington, Chairman of the Strategy & Resources Committee said he recognised the challenges faced by so many residents including “the lockdowns, the absence of physical contact with family and friends, the worries over employment, being furloughed, the closure of schools and the challenges of home schooling, and the toll on the mental health of so many”.

He added that “Using the ideas in the Councils Future 40 vision which were shaped by residents themselves, we will further develop our recovery plan, for the Council and the Borough as whole, to Build Back Better so that, collectively and individually, we will be stronger and even better than before”

Referencing the new council tax rate, which for the lowest council tax band will be just 6 pence extra a week, Councillor Kington said that:  “We are asking all our residents pay a few pence extra each week so that we can come through the pandemic in a stronger position whilst collectively protecting the very important services that support the most vulnerable members of our community”

Councillor Kington also said he was “Very pleased that, as in previous years, there are no cuts to the services provided by the Borough Council”.

Full details of the budget can be found here

https://democracy.epsom-ewell.gov.uk/documents/s18953/Budget%20Report%202021%20-%202022.pdf