The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced his intention to raise council tax across London as part of his draft budget. 

Khan set out his draft budget to be submitted to the Greater London Authority Group on Wednesday 18th January, and he intends to raise council tax by almost 10% as part of a plan to protect public services. 

As well as the increase in council tax, fares on TfL services will go up by 5.9% in line with national rail ticket increases, this will be used to invest more in policing, specifically funding 500 new Police Community Support Officers; and funding the London Fire Brigade to improve response times to major fires. 

The average household will spend an extra £434.14 per year, with an increase of £3.21 per month for Band D households. 

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: "The last thing I want to do is increase council tax at a time when many household budgets are stretched, but the Government's refusal to provide the funding our city needs means I've been left with no viable alternative but to help plug the gap by raising council tax by £3.21 a month.  

"This will ensure we can protect and further improve our vital frontline public services, including the police, transport and the London Fire Brigade.    

"Bearing down on violent crime and making our city safer for everyone remains my number one priority.  

"The extra funding for the police will go directly towards putting an additional 500 Police Community Support Officers into neighbourhoods across London.  

"This will help us to build on the progress we're making to reduce violent crime in London." 

The GLA Conservatives, who hold the Mayor of London to account, have criticised the decision to raise council tax, believing it to be unaffordable in the current climate. 

Peter Fortune, deputy leader of the GLA Conservatives, told the BBC: "Sadiq Khan's council tax will have risen 57% since he was elected, as he hits Londoners with another big increase in fares and a ULEZ tax that targets the poorest. 

"The mayor wants to impose an eye-watering and unaffordable cost of living burden on Londoners to compensate for his own financial mismanagement."