A message from the Leader of Hammersmith & Fulham Council

2010/2011 message

This year, for the fourth successive year, we have reduced your council tax by 3%.

Our share of the Band D council tax is £811.78 which is £25 cheaper than last year and £105 cheaper than 2006. This is the fourth lowest council tax in London.

Meanwhile, the Mayor of London is freezing his share of the bill at £309.82 making the overall total of, £1,121.60 for a Band D property.

We want the best possible services for the lowest possible cost. We are cutting your bill while putting more police officers on the streets in town centres. We are making our streets cleaner, improving refuse and recycling collections and improving your parks. We have also opened the first new library in the borough for 40 years. The new Shepherds Bush library has been delivered at virtually no cost to the taxpayer. 

H&F is continuing to support our most vulnerable residents. We have a higher safety net than most councils. We are spending £2.5 million more on Freedom Passes and have increased the grants pot for voluntary groups.

Some people make the mistake in thinking that cutting council tax must result in cutting services. It does not. Our savings come from introducing competition to council services, selling assets that we no longer need, improving staff productivity and cutting waste and bureaucracy.

While cutting bills, we are also cutting the council's historic debt. It is just like a large credit card bill. We have managed to reduce that debt in four years by £24 million saving our taxpayers £2.9 million a year in borrowing costs.

Residents expect and deserve value for money. We will go on doing everything possible to deliver first class services while keeping your council tax affordable.

Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh
H&F Council Leader