WAVERLEY’S Conservative leadership was congratulated as members signed off a budget avoiding any cuts to public services despite a £1.5m shortfall last week.

Borough council leader and Tory councillor for Upper Hale Julia Potts and her deputy, Haslemere member Ged Hall, were applauded by fellow party members at the February 12 full council meeting for presenting a balanced budget “under exceedingly challenging circumstances” – due to a projected £1.5m shortfall – that included “no cuts in services, no reductions in community grants and no increase in parking charges”.

Borough ratepayers go to the polls on May 2 to vote for who they want to represent them at Waverley, but Miss Potts told the meeting the Tory administration had resisted any budget “gimmicks” in levying the maximum 2.99 per cent increase agreed by government without going to a referendum.

“It would have been very easy to raid reserves ahead of the election,” she said. “But this is a Tory administration and Tories don’t believe in election gimmicks.”

Opposition councillor Andy Macleod (Farnham Residents) responded: “I fear this budget is not a cause of public rejoicing. Both Waverley and Surrey are increasing their share by the maximum possible and Surrey Police by 10 per cent. Many will not welcome an increase of this size in their council tax.”

Farnham Residents leader councillor Jerry Hyman said: “This is undoubtedly an election budget – it’s a benign budget”.

Fellow Farnham Residents member David Beaman agreed, saying the 2019/20 budget was the “calm before the storm”. He warned the potential loss of £2m in retained business rates would force cuts to frontline services and grants and increase car park charges.

Waverley has projected a £3.8m shortfall by 2022/23 due to the ‘virtual elimination of central government funding’ and will work to develop major income-generating projects to compensate, including Brightwells and Haslemere’s Wey Hill car park.

* Taxpayers in Farnham face an average £73.37 hike to their council tax bills in April it has been confirmed, after Waverley agreeed a 2.99 per cent rise to its share of the tax bill.

This adds to increases already agreed by Surrey County Council (2.99 per cent), the Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner (10 per cent) and Farnham Town Council (2.99 per cent).

The average Band D household in Farnham faces a £1,960.89 tax bill next year – an increase of 3.89 per cent.