Hillingdon Council sets out budget proposals

Government funding is not meeting the additional cost pressures being experienced by local authorities, in particular an increase in the cost of and demand for social care services. To minimise the funding requirement from residents, Hillingdon has continued its transformation programme saving £13 million in 2022/23 by reducing senior management, cutting back-office and administrative costs and improving service efficiency by making better use of technology such as introducing a new digital parking permit system and improving the efficiency of waste collections, amongst others. The council's transformation programme will continue to play a key role moving forwards and has been expanded to deliver further savings of £21 million in 2023/24. 

Core council tax will increase by 2.99 per cent and a levy of 2 per cent to fund social care will also be charged (income that is ringfenced to fund residents' adult social care). In practice, this equates to a total increase of £1.21 a week for a Band D property. 

In addition, the council has, for many years, been charging one of the lowest levels of fees and charges across all London boroughs. The council's proposed increases across fees and charges for 2023/24 will bring the authority more in line with other outer London boroughs. Hillingdon is one of very few local authorities not to charge for a first residents parking permit and regrettably this is no longer sustainable.

The increase in council tax and fees and charges will support the elderly, the most vulnerable and maintain the award-winning core frontline services residents have come to expect from the borough. The council will continue to maintain and invest in services for residents, including free weekly waste and recycling collections, leisure facilities, town centre improvements, road resurfacing and the delivery of new homes and school places.

Cllr Martin Goddard, Hillingdon Council's Cabinet Member for Finance, said: "Against the backdrop of ongoing challenging economic conditions, our planned budget is set to be achieved through a combination of delivering prudent increases in council tax and fees and charges, producing efficiency savings, whilst maintaining key frontline services and preserving reserves.

"We know that these increases will be unwelcome news in the face of the cost of living crisis but the reality is that despite them, Hillingdon residents will continue to get a better deal than many in London and beyond due to the council's proven track record in sound financial planning and commitment to putting them first."

The council's Cabinet will meet to review the budget plans on Thursday 15 December, and residents will be able to have their say on the proposals between Friday 16 December and Sunday 29 January at www.hillingdon.gov.uk/budget-consultation.