The Leader of Hounslow Council, Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, has warned that tough decisions are ahead amid the cost-of-living crisis. 

Rajawat posted a statement to the Hounslow Council website stating that due to the cost-of-living crisis creating increased demand on council services and with budget uncertainty, this means that decisions on services will have to be made. 

Central government have not yet confirmed long-term council funding beyond the £60 billion draft local government finance report announced last month, making planning for what services are being provided a struggle for Hounslow Council. 

Councillor Rajawat said: "Hounslow – like many other boroughs – continues to face a steep rise in demand for services, while juggling tighter budgets and soaring costs.   

"Local authorities are taking responsibility and stepping-up to look after vulnerable people with complex needs during the cost-of-living crisis, so it is vital that we are properly funded.     

"The proposed local government funding settlement is calculated on the assumption that councils will put up council tax by 5%. If that deal goes ahead, we will face the stark choice of either putting up council tax or having a very significant budget shortfall.  

"It is also of concern that the government has not committed to longer-term funding for councils, which means we cannot be certain about how much money we will have in the years ahead, making it difficult to plan.  

"With inflation at a 40-year high and demand for many of our vital services never greater, we will inevitably have to make some very tough choices over the coming weeks once the funding we receive from the government is confirmed.   

"Whatever happens though we must be financially responsible and make sure we can balance the books, while continuing to provide that safety net for those in need.  

"We know times are very difficult at the moment for many of our residents and we will continue to do everything we can to work efficiently, keep our costs down and make sure we use our money wisely, on the things that make a real difference to our residents' lives."