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Three Conservative council leaders in London have written to Andy Burnham, accusing the Government of \u201cdevolving blame\u201d for council tax hikes.<\/p>\n
The leaders of Westminster, Wandsworth and Kensington & Chelsea councils say they are being forced to significantly increase council tax or slash services to plug a hole left by cuts to central government funding.<\/p>\n
It comes after the \u201cfair funding\u201d review of council allocations resulted in a formula that redirects cash to more deprived areas.<\/p>\n
Shadow local government secretary Sir James Cleverly said Londoners are facing a \u201cBurnham penalty on their council tax\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Tories are calling for Local Government Secretary Angela Rayner to urgently review the funding changes that they say are \u201cset to worsen the lives of local residents across London and the South East\u201d.<\/p>\n
However, a Government spokesperson said they are \u201cfixing an outdated funding system\u201d whereby some of the wealthiest parts of the country \u201cbenefitted from exceptionally high levels of government support, while communities facing greater pressures lost out\u201d.<\/p>\n
They added that the reforms make the system \u201cfairer for taxpayers across the country\u201d.<\/p>\n
In a letter seen by the Press Association, Westminster City Council\u2019s Paul Swaddle, Wandsworth Council\u2019s Robert Morritt and Kensington & Chelsea Council\u2019s Elizabeth Campbell said the Government\u2019s funding formula \u201cpunishes low tax councils\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Tory council leaders said: \u201cIf our councils do not impose council tax rises, our communities face considerable cuts in funding for local services.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not just devolving blame, it is devolving council tax rises and government cuts.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is fiddled funding, cooked up in Whitehall but leaving town halls to carry the blame.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese tax rises are in addition to the new top-up council tax on many homes in our councils \u2013 and none of the revenues from this tax penalty will be retained by councils or by the Mayor of London.<\/p>\n
Six councils have been granted two-year \u201cfunding realignment powers\u201d, which enables them to increase council tax beyond the 5% threshold.<\/p>\n