Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s budget for the coming year strips out waste, cuts senior management, cuts charges and delivers a better, kinder approach for residents.
Since 2010, the government has cut Hammersmith & Fulham’s funding by 66 per cent – while giving us extra responsibilities without any extra money. As a result, this year the council has had to cut more than £15million from its budget.
Facing these unprecedented pressures, H&F Council took a radical new approach to its budget setting, focusing on important outcomes that truly deliver improved services for residents.
The council has also changed the way it deals with property developers, securing £140million for the borough for community benefits and affordable homes in tough negotiations.
This approach has enabled the council to transform social care services, protect people most in need, invest in its workforce and safeguard services for all residents.
Alongside freezing council tax rates for residents, the budget for 2016/17 will also:
- continue to fund the highest number of council-funded police in the borough’s history
- defend Charing Cross Hospital
- continue to provide free homecare
- end the 15 minute cap on homecare visits, giving people the time they need for proper care
- protect street cleaning and refuse collection services and invest in new improvements to local parks, and
- further reduce the cost of Meals on Wheels for elderly residents.
“This is a budget that takes a more modern, business-like approach to stripping out waste, which has allowed us to focus resources on our frontline services,” added Cllr Cowan.
“This means we can invest in policing, parks and keeping our streets clean while taking a much more compassionate approach to those residents that most need our help.
“I am hugely proud of the transformation taking place across our homecare service which – thanks to the tough decisions we have taken – makes H&F one of only two councils in the country to provide these vital services at no charge to those who need them.
“As well as cutting many fees and charges, H&F is also one of only a handful of councils in the country that will freeze rather than raise council tax this year.
“These changes are not some happy accident – they are the result of decisions taken by an administration that stands with residents and keeps its promises. This is a budget that shows the positive changes we can make together even in the most challenging of times.”
