But critics say other charges in the borough have soared
Hammersmith and Fulham Council says it is aiming to cut Council Tax by a further three per cent next year – the third year running that it is reducing the tax.
Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Council Leader Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh explained the move by saying his administration had cut Council spending by £7 million, the Council’s workforce by 18 per cent, and the Council's debt by £20 million. He said that over the next three years, more Council services would be contracted-out, with the aim of saving at least £5 million.
“For most households Council Tax is the third highest bill,” Cllr Greenhalgh said. “We have to respond to the great economic challenges facing households.”
The Taxpayer’s Alliance has praised Hammersmith and Fulham for its approach: "Hammersmith and Fulham Council have given taxpayers a huge helping hand by cutting taxes. Most councils have just pushed taxes up and up, claiming that there's no alternative but H&F have proven them wrong. Cutting 11% off publicity spending, for example, is a great step forward. They have a good understanding that people don't want their council tax wasted on middle managers and spin doctors," said Chief Executive Matthew Elliott.
But locally, critics say that while Council Tax has been reduced in recent years, other charges in the borough have seen a steep increase.
“For relatively modest tax cuts - an average 50p per week - they have massively increased charges: 40% meals on wheels, up to 50% parking, 50% adult education. There are new charges for recycling and home care and most charges (over 500) have gone up by more than inflation. At the same time they have cut services to the voluntary sector, for the elderly and disabled, for street cleansing and refuse,” says Shepherd’s Bush MP Andy Slaughter.
According to Greenhalgh, Hammersmith and Fulham now sets the fourth lowest Council Tax in London.
The H&F Council Leader says that, despite the tax cuts, services have “improved significantly”: “High-profile, round-the-clock beat policing has been introduced and paid for by the Council and there were 2,000 fewer recorded crimes this year. Street-cleaning services and council estates are being improved,” he wrote.
In a letter to the Telegraph, Opposition Leader Cllr Stephen Cowan disputes this: “Residents don’t agree that services have improved. Complaints are up about street cleaning and dog fouling. Affordable housing is cut back on each new development and front line services such as highways maintenance, libraries, youth services and educational grants have all been slashed,” he says.
“Greenhalgh’s self-proclaimed mission to create the ‘Borough of Opportunity’ rings hollow,” Cowan continues. “In fact, after awarding himself a 14% salary rise at the last budget meeting, and admitting that his senior colleague had flown to the south of France to meet property developers so they could release 'contentious development sites', then it’s fair to ask: who exactly is his ‘borough of opportunity’ for?”
1 October 2008
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