TAXPAYERS in Haslemere face an average £58.50 hike to their council tax bills in April, it has been confirmed, after Waverley Borough Council agreed its budget last week.

Councillors signed off a 2.99 per cent rise to Waverley’s share of the tax bill at Tuesday’s full council – adding to the increases already agreed by Surrey County Council (2.99 per cent) and the Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner (ten per cent). Haslemere Town Council has increased its precept by 0.7 per cent, but at no additional cost to taxpayers.

Overall, it equates to a yearly £1,923.97 council tax bill for the average Band D household in Haslemere – up 3.14 per cent from £1,865.47 last year.

Waverley councillor Julia Potts (Farnham, Cons) and her deputy Ged Hall (Haslemere, Cons) were applauded by fellow party members at last week’s full council for presenting a balanced budget “under exceedingly challenging circumstances” – because of 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 ten per cent. Many will not welcome an increase of this size in their council tax.”

Farnham Residents leader 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 front-line services and grants and increase car park charges.

Waverley has projected a £3.8m shortfall by 2022/23 because of 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.