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Hammersmith cuts council tax by 3 per cent
Katharine Barney, Evening Standard26 Nov 2008
TORY-RUN Hammersmith and Fulham Council today announced a three per cent reduction in council tax despite the economic downturn.
Council leader Stephen Greenhalgh said it was possible to cut spending without losing services, although the borough has cut back on staffing by nearly 600 jobs in the past three years.
The borough has also saved £1.1million on accommodation costs for workers and spending on staff from agencies has fallen from £24million to £21million.
It is the third year of council tax cuts in the borough, making the average band D taxpayer £175 better off this year than last.
Mr Greenhalgh said: "At a time of great financial uncertainty for many families we are once again taking the lead in Britain by cutting council tax for the third year in a row. It is essential councils like ours do all we can to help hard-working families struggling to make ends meet, whilst ensuring we still deliver quality services."
Mr Greenhalgh added that his council was spending to maintain quality in "services that matter".
"We are improving schools, cutting crime and making our parks better," he said. "We are retaining weekly bin collections while making it easier for residents by ensuring refuse, recycling and street cleaning happen on the same day.
"This is a common sense council that is leading the way in delivering quality services at the lowest possible cost. Our tax cuts are affordable and do not increase our debt burden. Instead we are cutting debt."
Reader views (2)
Congratulations, Stephen. Just shows what a real Conservative Council can do when it puts its mind and energy to the task. A lesson to others!
- Daniel Hope, Barnet, 26/11/2008 14:47
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Good for Hammersmith & Fulham in cutting out waste and debt - maybe they could run a course for Gordon & Alistair?
However I would like to query the source of the "£175" figure please.
Hammersmith & Fulham did cut the local element of council tax by 3% in the last year. To save £175, the previous Band D annual bill would have to have been £5833.
Surely council tax per person is nearer to £1700pa - does the borough have lots of multi-occupancy households, or should the article refer to a £175 saving compared with the trend of council tax bills had the previous Labour council stayed in power?
- Jools, London, 26/11/2008 13:20
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