Watford council vows to protect services as it boosts tax

It voted through its 2023/24 budget yesterday (January 31) which includes capital projects, business support, park improvements, environmental protections and affordable homes.

Council tax will rise by 2.9%, the maximum allowed without a referendum, which the council says is “necessary” due to inflation being above 10%.

St Mary’s churchyard is set for streetscape improvements (Image: Watford Borough Council)

This means people in band D homes will pay 16p more each week in tax.

Watford mayor Peter Taylor said: “This is a difficult time for many families, with prices for energy, food and other utilities soaring.

“My priority has been to protect really important local services and make sure residents get value for money.”

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The council says it has “carefully managed” its capital budget to deliver promised projects despite financial pressures.

It will invest in more affordable homes at Croxley View, regenerating Watford Business Park, improving streetscapes, replacing boundary signs, and will spend £200,000 in improving local shopping parades.

Improvements for the Town Hall Quarter including refurbishing the town hall and Colosseum, which missed out on Levelling Up Fund money last month, will also see council investment.

Financial support will be given for green spaces (Image: Watford Borough Council)

Parks will see improvement while financial support was also agreed for River Colne and wetlands projects.

A £500,000 “sustainability reserve fund” for helping the town be net-zero by 2030 was included, along with £50,000 for tree planting.

The mayor added: “Over the last 10 years, Watford Council’s funding from central government has been cut by over 50% in real terms, but we have increased our income from commercial property rent and invested in front line services.

“It is so important to have great parks, a thriving town centre and a high-quality local environment.”

The Cassiobury Park Wetlands Restoration project and Rediscovering the River Colne will get funding (Image: Watford Borough Council)

“We are responding to this difficult period by protecting local services and helping people through the cost-of-living emergency.”

Leader of the opposition Nigel Bell said: “Lots of people are still struggling with the cost-of-living generally and this extra tax rise is not going to help.”

The Labour councillor added that raising individual charges beyond just council tax will also increase people’s costs. He also branded raising the price of green bins by 25% a “tax on going green”.