A COUNCIL tax ‘hit’ of just under £100 faces Farnham Band D residents after Surrey County Council, Surrey Police and Crime Commission and Waverley Borough Council got agreement this week to increase their share of the precept by the maximum allowed.

Last Tuesday, Surrey voted for a 5.9 per cent hike at its full council meeting to plug a £39 million budget deficit, while Waverley, which faces a £8m shortfall, backed a 2.9 per cent rise.

The day before, Surrey PCC David Munro announced that a proposed 5.3 per cent rise in the police share was approved, adding another £12 to last year’s Band D settlement.

Last month, Farnham Town Council approved a more modest 2.6 per cent rise, equivalent to a £1.59 increase per annum for the average Band D ratepayer.

In total, it equates to an estimated £98.59 hike to the annual Band D council tax bill in Farnham - marking a 5.5 per cent increase, significantly exceeding December’s 2.6 per cent Consumer Price Index rate of inflation.

‘Squeezed’ councils said they were left with no choice, following cuts in central government funding. Both Surrey and Waverley have called for county MPs to take up the cudgels on their behalf and force an urgent rethink.

Surrey has proposed cuts of more than £25 million to services supporting children, schools and families to save £66.5m, a move condemned by opposition parties as a “poor outcome” for residents” facing “unaffordable” rises.

Waverley is continuing to fund the voluntary sector despite its 2.9 per cent rise, which was backed by the executive committee this week and is due to be approved by full council on Tuesday, February 20.

Ged Hall, Waverley’s portfolio holder for finance, told members service level agreements worth £687,105 would be made to voluntary organisations, including day centres, Citizens Advice Waverley and Hoppa.

Thanking Mr Hall and officers, Waverley leader Farnham councillor Julia Potts said: “Waverley was in a difficult place last year and we had to make parking charges that were not popular, but we had to do it. It’s really encouraging we have now been able to commit a significant amount for voluntary groups and are not increasing car park charges.”

Waverley’s housing portfolio holder Carole King was thankful it had proved possible to minimise the impact of Surrey cuts of £176,000 in grant funding to the borough’s sheltered housing.

“I know that we will be able to continue managing them for the foreseeable future,” she said. “Long may that last.”

Regretting the 5.3 per cent rise in the police share of the percent, Surrey PCC David Munro said: “In an economic climate where everyone’s budgets are tight, asking the public to pay more money in their council tax for their police service is not a responsibility I take lightly.

“However, I must balance the tax burden on the county’s residents with ensuring Surrey Police has sufficient funding and resources to sustain our policing service and keep us all safe.”