Hounslow Council has agreed an 'ambitious' budget that will deliver a 'thriving, safer, cleaner, greener, liveable and healthier borough for all'.   

The detailed proposals on how the Council will fund its services for 2024/25, and deliver on the priorities set out in its Corporate Plan, were approved at a meeting of Borough Council last night (27 February).   

Hounslow Council says like other local governments, is encountering substantial financial challenges due to elevated inflation and interest rates leading to rising costs, the effects of government policies and restricted central funding, alongside a growing demand for services.

In order to build on the services the council has delivered over the last year, while protecting the frontline services on which thousands of people rely, the budget includes a Council Tax increase.   

Over the past year Hounslow Council has delivered:   

• Setting up three Community and Family Hubs with more to come, to bring essential services closer to home  
• Supporting 4,100 adults with social care needs and 3,000 children and young people with special educational needs    
• Planting more than 8,000 trees, surpassing the target of 7500 trees, and launching the 'Net Zero Hub', a new online product designed to improve climate communications and engagement for residents and supporters. 
• Building hundreds of high-quality affordable, energy efficient new homes 
• Increasing recycling with 103,000 households' recycling collected each week  
• Providing £1.2 million in funding for community and voluntary groups 
• Working closely with the NHS and Health Outreach Team taking services into the heart of the communities which is going a long way to tackling health inequalities across Hounslow 
• Working on preventative health initiatives, along with 61,000 flu vaccines administered through winter.  
• Investing in a new Safer Communities team to support vulnerable young adults to make Hounslow safer and continuing to work on tackling violence against women and girls.  

Council Tax will rise by 4.99%, this includes 2% ringfenced for adult social care, a critical investment to help meet the rising costs and demand for these services whilst supporting some of the most vulnerable the council says.

This works out at about £1.39p extra per week on average for a Band D property.  

Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, Leader of Hounslow Council, said: "We remain ambitious for Hounslow and have prepared a budget for the year ahead which supports us to continue to deliver and invest in our borough and its communities.  

"Like many councils we find ourselves under major financial pressure as we face the combined impact of soaring inflation, interest rates and rising demand for vital services for our most vulnerable residents.   

"Whilst sound financial management over the years means Hounslow is in a relatively strong position and doesn't need to cut services, the extraordinary economic climate means we have little choice but to raise Council Tax to ensure we can continue to deliver services that make a real difference to residents' lives.    

"I know this will be frustrating for many people, however, I hope you will be reassured that most of your council tax goes on helping those who need it most, including children with special educational needs and disabilities, adults with learning disabilities, families with housing needs, people suffering from domestic abuse, and vulnerable young people at risk of violence.   

"I know this is an added cost for people at a time when there are financial pressures for everyone. Through close collaboration with our partners, we have an extensive package of support to help residents including our community and family hubs, and I would encourage anyone with concerns to visit the Council's website for more information."   

To read the full Budget report, click here.

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