Council Tax is rising in Epsom and Ewell despite the council being in a “strong financial position”.

The 2018/19 budget was voted through (with 29 for and six against) at a full council meeting on Tuesday, February 20.

The borough council element of the tax will rise by 2.98 per cent - £5.58 a year for band D and £3.72 a year for band A.

Councillors cited the government’s decision to take away the revenue support grant funding (which was £1million in 2015/16) for this financial year as a reason for the tax hike.

Speaking after the budget meeting, Councillor Eber Kington, chairman of the Strategy and Resources Committee, said: “Epsom and Ewell Borough Council has worked with a steady reduction in government grants and is now one of a very few councils nationally that receives no Revenue Support Grant at all. That is unfair and unreasonable.

“However, we have made huge efficiency savings, changed the way we deliver some services and sought new incomes streams so that, unlike many councils, we have not cut any services. I am proud of our financial record, and I am also proud of the council staff who, under challenging circumstances, continue to provide high quality services to our residents.”

Council Tax goes to three bodies: 77 per cent to Surrey County Council, 13 per cent to Surrey Police and 10 per cent to the borough council.

Surrey County Council has already voted to increase its portion of Council Tax for the next financial year.

Also included in the budget are improvements to services in the year ahead – enhancing the Longrove Park skate park, increasing action against anti-social behaviour and introducing day care for older and vulnerable adults.

Councillor Kington emphasised the work done by the council this year in several areas, including reducing the number of homeless families by buying properties to use as temporary accommodation, introducing a weekly rubbish collection service that led to an increase in recycling and supporting businesses to establish the business improvement district.

Labour councillor Kate Chinn, who voted against the budget, told the council: "We applaud the reduction in the cost of homelessness, and if the council builds homes for people to live in, that they can afford, this would add assets and improve lives in so many ways for residents.

"A settled home to live in, to raise a family in if you wish to, and send children to local schools. To work in or commute from the borough and to spend your leisure time in the borough.

"More than any other measure home-building would revitalise the town, adding to our town’s vibrancy. We urge the members to commit to building homes for their residents."