Tax cutting threedom video goes viral

Monday December 12, 2011

A screenshot from the 'Threedom' viral YouTube video

Watch the YouTube clip» (opens new window)

Three really is a magic number as a groundbreaking YouTube clip celebrates freedom (threedom) from paying large amounts of council tax in a flagship west London borough.

The news that council tax is set to fall by at least 3%, for the fifth year out of six, in Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) broke as council staff and borough residents came together to produce their own music video - which has now gone viral on YouTube.

Performing Arts students from Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College (EHWLC) recorded their own unique versions of tracks from local government heavyweights the Rolling Stones (‘I’m Three’), George Michael (‘Threedom’) and Blind Melon’s epic ‘Three is a Magic Number’ for the short video.

Also featured are dinner ladies serving mushy peas in the shape of a 3 to schoolchildren at West London Free School, refuse collectors hurling a giant 3 into the back of their truck and books with 3 in the title at the council’s award winning Shepherds Bush Library.

The former UK ‘Council of the Year;’ is proposing to cut tax but 3.75% in April next year - while protecting frontline services like weekly bin collections, street sweeping and care for the vulnerable.

H&F Council Leader, Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh, said: “In these tough economic times we want to free residents from the burden of excessive taxation. This innovative YouTube clip takes a light-hearted look on a very serious message. We are saying loud and clear that it is possible to consistently cut tax and council debt while improving frontline services. We are also proud to be climbing the league table of low tax boroughs and look set to break into the top three nationwide with our biggest council tax cut yet.”

The average council taxpayer in H&F is set to be £243 better off compared to the average Londoner... based on five years of tax cuts at a time when average council tax bills in the capital have risen by £73.

The 3.75% reduction would bring H&F £1 below RBKC’s tax level, when including levies for the maintenance of garden squares, and closer to Westminster City Council - if the cut is ratified by H&F’s Full Council in February 2012.

Johny Thomson, Music Lecturer and Tutor at EHWLC says: “Ealing Hammersmith & West London College welcomes the opportunity for our performing arts students to get involved in industry projects. Our collaboration with H&F Council has been a great experience for our learners. Working to a professional brief and having to meet its criteria has given our learners an insight into the industry and provided real experience which can be used on their CV's.”

You can watch the YouTube clip, which was produced at virtually zero cost, here:

Watch the YouTube clip» (opens new window)

Read more about the budget proposals and have your say at www.lbhf.gov.uk/budget.