The Council of Wandsworth met on Tuesday 15 September 2026 for an extraordinary meeting. The meeting began with announcements by the Mayor, including the sad passing of former Councillor Colin Doar, and tributes were paid by councillors. The main focus of the meeting was a significant statement on the council's financial position and a proposed spending review, which included a substantial increase in council tax.

Tributes to Former Councillor Colin Doar

The meeting commenced with Mayor Emmeline Owens announcing the death of former Councillor Colin Doar, who served as a councillor for 16 years between 1990 and 2006. Councillors Kemi Akinola and Ravi Govindia paid heartfelt tributes, remembering Councillor Doar's dedication to the community, his involvement in local charities, and his distinctive personal style. Councillor Akinola highlighted his work with the Rotary Club and his support for various local causes, while Councillor Govindia recalled his old-fashioned and elegant demeanour and his lifelong commitment to public service.

Questions to the Leader of the Council

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Robert Morritt, faced questions on several key issues. A significant portion of the discussion revolved around the council's financial situation and potential council tax increases. Councillor Simon Hogg, Leader of the Opposition, questioned the administration's consideration of doubling council tax, which Councillor Morritt stated was a necessary consideration due to severe government funding cuts and the previous administration's financial position. Councillor Hogg also raised concerns about the transparency of the decision-making process and the impact on residents.

Councillor Morritt also addressed questions regarding investment and job creation, stating the council's commitment to fostering growth through engagement with developers. He also confirmed that plans for selective licensing to protect private renters would be paused, pending a review of the scheme's effectiveness.

Statement on Housing

Councillor Robert Morritt, Leader of the Council, delivered a statement on housing, acknowledging the challenges facing the borough's housing stock and apologising to tenants and leaseholders for the level of service received in recent years. He outlined the administration's ambition to achieve a C1 regulatory rating for housing, emphasizing the importance of safe, well-maintained, and properly managed homes. Key commitments included strengthening compliance, improving resident engagement, and delivering better accountability across the housing service. The council plans to re-establish an Executive Director for Housing to give housing a stronger voice. Councillor Morritt also discussed the trade-offs involved in delivering more homes, stating a preference to focus on existing stock while acknowledging the need for new builds, including council homes. He highlighted the cancellation of some housing projects deemed undeliverable and stressed the importance of regeneration that creates better homes and neighbourhoods.

Councillor Simon Hogg, Leader of the Opposition, responded to the housing statement, welcoming the start of a debate on housing policy. He reiterated Labour's commitment to affordable homes, highlighting their record on using public land for council homes and redesigning regeneration projects. He expressed disagreement with the Conservative administration's cancellation of housing schemes and called for greater transparency in decision-making. Both leaders acknowledged the need for both new build and the improvement of existing stock, with Councillor Morritt emphasizing a focus on existing stock and Councillor Hogg stressing the need for both.

Statement on the Spending Review and Council Tax Increase

The most significant item of the meeting was the Statement on the Spending Review by Councillor Peter Graham, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance. Councillor Graham presented a stark picture of the council's financial challenges, attributing them to substantial government funding cuts and the financial position inherited from the previous administration. He detailed a projected budget gap of £215 million by 2030-31, necessitating difficult decisions.

The core of the statement was the announcement of a significant council tax increase. Councillor Graham explained that after identifying £79 million in net annual savings by 2030-31, a budget gap of £143 million would remain, which could only be met through higher council tax. He stated that unless the government reconsiders its position, Wandsworth's council tax bills would need to increase by £958, representing a 94% rise, to £1,978 annually, with a potential single increase in April 2027. The council plans to nearly double the support provided through the council tax reduction scheme for those on low incomes and expand eligibility.

Councillor Simon Hogg, Leader of the Opposition, vehemently opposed the proposed council tax increase, labelling it outrageous, unfair, and unnecessary. He accused the administration of concealing its intentions and blamed them for the financial situation, arguing that Labour had a plan to manage the budget without such a drastic increase. He highlighted Labour's previous record of low council tax and high reserves. The debate was heated, with both sides accusing each other of dishonesty and mismanagement.

Following the statements and questions, a procedural motion to commend the statement on the Spending Review to the Council was put to a vote. The motion was defeated, with 25 votes in favour and 28 against.

Other Business

The meeting also included questions to Cabinet members on various topics:

• School Uniform Vouchers: Councillor George Crivelli, Cabinet Member for Children, addressed concerns about the school uniform voucher scheme, clarifying that new, unbranded uniforms were being provided and that the scheme was ongoing. He acknowledged potential implementation issues and pledged to address them.
• Hire E-bikes: Councillor Nick Austin, Cabinet Member for Transport, updated councillors on actions being taken to manage the dumping of e-bikes, including the introduction of an e-bike charter, more parking bays, and a removal service.
• Policing: Councillor Caroline de La Sejour, Cabinet Member for Enforcement, provided an update on recruitment and deployment plans for additional police officers, with further details to be presented to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
• Closure of Albert Bridge: Councillor Nick Austin also discussed efforts to tackle traffic congestion in areas affected by the closure of Albert Bridge, including adjustments to traffic light signalling and engagement with TfL and Kensington and Chelsea Council.
• Green Spaces during Extreme Heat: Councillor Ethan Brooks, Cabinet Member for Environment, outlined measures to make parks and green spaces more resilient to hotter, drier summers, including selecting drought-tolerant species and increasing tree canopy cover. He confirmed the council's commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2030 and net zero by 2043.
• Adult Social Care Finance: Councillor Mrs. Angela Graham raised concerns about the financial pressures on adult social care, and Councillor Peter Graham, Deputy Leader, outlined steps being taken to focus on prevention and early intervention.

The meeting concluded with the Mayor thanking councillors for their attendance.