More London Councils freeze Council Tax

Following news of Wandsworth's Council Tax freeze, Cllr Phil Taylor reports that Ealing is freezing its Council Tax this year. By keeping their Council Tax rises below inflation in recent years their bills have already fallen from 23rd to 18th lowest out of the 33 London boroughs. Hillingdon is also freezing bills this year.

But Merton is putting up the Council tax by 1.9%. They say this is the lowest hike for 15 years. I would have thought all the more reason there should have been some fat they could find to trim.

This year the Band D Council Tax (excluding the Mayor of London's levy) is £1,091.49 in Merton. In Ealing it is £1,040.22. In Hillingdon it is £1,112.93. So according to my maths after their increase Merton will be 70p a year cheaper than Hillingdon.