Hillingdon council tax frozen
BOROUGH ANNOUNCES ITS TENTH YEAR IN A ROW WITHOUT A RISE
FOR the 10th successive year, Hillingdon Council has frozen council tax for all residents.
Despite 95 per cent of authorities in England raising council tax this year, Hillingdon Council has said all current services and facilities will continue – including library services, weekly refuse and recycling collections, and services for the elderly, such as free burglar alarms, free allotments and free swimming – even with the freeze.
Councillors also agreed that Hillingdon residents will not be charged the social care precept for the third year running.
The council stated the budget included:
■ Further investment in expanding primary and secondary schools to meet the needs of a growing population and provide additional places, with the programme of investment now totalling £260 million
■ £30m funding for a new swimming pool in the Yiewsley/West Drayton area
■ £1m for local communities through the Chrysalis fund
■ Additional investment in local highways, totalling £4m for 2018/19
■ Continued funding for the council’s bowls club refurbishment programme ■ £5m for borough-wide library and leisure centre refurbishment programmes
■ Reprovision of Hillingdon Outdoor Activity Centre using £26.5m funding secured from HS2 Ltd
■ £576,000 each year for a new waste and recycling centre in the south of the borough.
■ The introduction of a free bulky item collection service for all residents
■ £3m grant programme to support independent youth and uniformed groups (scouts, guides and cadets)
■ Continued investment in replacing children’s playgrounds
■ Continued provision of services to residents over 65 including free burglar alarms, allotments, swimming and Brown Badge parking permits
■ Initiatives to reduce the use of plastic bottles and cups
■ To mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, a £320,000 bursary scheme to assist young Hillingdon residents with university tuition fees
■ Continued investment of £1m in the Chrysalis Environmental Improvement scheme
In addition, the council has offered to purchase Uxbridge Police Station at market price (£4.6m to £5m) and make it available for police use and pay £250,000 a year, for the next five years, representing approximately half of the running costs.
The council has also set aside £200,000 to protect the well being of residents and the environment by assisting in the removal of the threat of Heathrow expansion.
Councillor Ray Puddifoot, Leader of Hillingdon Council said: “We put residents at the heart of everything we do, and it is our sound financial management and good business practice that really sets Hillingdon apart from other councils.
“Considering the huge financial pressures facing local authorities, freezing council tax for a 10th successive year and the 12th year for over65s is a remarkable achievement and we will continue to improve facilities and deliver services that our residents value.”
The Mayor of London has increased the GLA precept for London residents in 2018/19.
On Thursday (February 22), the council tax rate was increased by 5.1%, which will raise £49 million.
This will be spent on combating knife crime, a 2% police pay increase and boosting officer numbers.
The GLA precept will increase from £280.02 in 2017/18 to £294.22 in 2018/19, a £14.20 increase representing just over 27p a week on the typical Band D taxpayer’s bill.
After making the proposal, Sadiq Khan said: “The government refuses to do what is necessary to keep Londoners safe – so I have no choice but to take action myself.”