Camden’s finance supremo Labour councillor Richard Olszewski

CAMDEN is set to raise council tax bills by the maximum amount possible as councillors get ready to set the next Town Hall budget.

In a familiar blame game, the Conservative opposition said the council could freeze the bills but the ruling Labour group said its hand was forced by spending cuts to local government ordered by central government.

The issue is set to be discussed at a cabinet meeting next week and later at a budget-setting meeting in which opposition parties can try to get amendments through.

History suggests this is an almost impossible task, however, due to Labour’s dominance in the council chamber.

It is the last finance debate before Camden votes on who should run the council for the next four years at the local elections in May. On the table is a new 2.99 per cent rise in council tax.

Conservative group leader Councillor Oliver Cooper urged the public to see that Camden was not being forced to increase the cost, as other local authorities worked on freezes or even cuts to the monthly bill.

“While other councils are doing their bit to ease the cost of living, Camden is just piling on misery,” he said. “Under this Labour administration, Camden has become London’s high-tax council, but without good services to show for it.

Conservative-run Barnet, Westminster, and Wandsworth Councils are freezing or cutting core council tax, which shows it could be done if only Camden were serious about the cost of living.”

He added: “Westminster charges residents almost £1,000 less than Camden every year, while Westminster also collects everyone’s bins at least two times a week and has the best state schools in the country.

“That’s what Camden could do if Labour listened to residents and focused on the day job, instead of eye-watering tax hikes.”

Comparisons with other local councils are a regular feature of the annual budget setting debates, although the choice of Westminster has left Labour council chiefs gunning to bring up the £6 million spent on the disastrous ‘Marble Arch mound’ in the neighbouring borough and the resignation of the deputy council leader over the botched tourist attraction.

Cllr Oliver Cooper, the leader of the Conservatives

Camden’s finance chief Councillor Richard Olszewski said the council was still counting the cost of Covid; it lost income from closed services while having to lay on extra support.

“The Tory government promised to do whatever it takes to get communities through the pandemic but they’ve broken that promise. They said they would give us 100 per cent support; instead, we have been left to ourselves to fund a £19 million pandemic black hole in our finances,” he said.

“We have been forced to raise council tax or risk leaving vulnerable older people without support. That’s not something we are prepared to do.

Cllr Olszewski added: “The Conservative government has reduced Camden Council’s funding by 67 per cent and removed billions nationally from support for individuals struggling to make ends meet.”

The Liberal Democrats and the Greens are expected to announce their budget suggestions next week.