Council tax is a tax on domestic properties to help cover the costs of local services such as education, social information services, highways, environmental health and refuse collection.
In addition, part of the council tax collected goes towards the costs of the Greater London Authority (GLA).
All domestic properties (houses, flats, mobile homes and houseboat moorings) are subject to council tax.
Work has commenced on the redevelopment of the Hayes and Avondale Drive estates, which is set to deliver around 740 new homes (50 per cent for sale and 50 per cent affordable).
200 affordable homes have been built across the borough, a further 27 are due to complete by the end of March. Work has also begun to deliver 34 affordable homes off Maple Road, Hayes; 12 homes at Chippendale Waye and 4 homes at Petworth Gardens, both Uxbridge.
45 additional properties have been acquired for use as affordable housing and up to 31 additional properties may complete before the end of March 2023.
42 underoccupied homes have been released under the council's Home Release Reward Scheme.
The council is supporting people fleeing from Ukraine. Under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, 467 guests have been sponsored in Hillingdon.
116 Housing in Multiple Occupation licences have been issued.
A vacant house in Hayes was turned into supported living for homeless people.
Forty planning enforcement notices have been served.
The council has recovered 78 council and temporary accommodation properties due to fraud.
4,892 fines were issued between 1 April 2022 and 28 February 2023 for environmental, anti-social behaviour and Public Space Protection Order offences.
52 fines were issued for fly-tipping offences captured by the borough's CCTV cameras.
New parking measures and increased enforcement controls were introduced at Ruislip Lido following persistent issues during the summer months.
The council has funded 20 Chrysalis projects which allow residents to choose how money is invested in council-owned assets in their communities.
26 community improvement and events proposals from residents received funding from the council's ward budget scheme.
In June 2022, 25 of the borough's unsung heroes were recognised for their community work at the council's Community Awards ceremony.
The council provided free public liability insurance and free road closures for more than 100 street parties and hosted a range of activities for residents to celebrate The Queen's Platinum Jubilee. Street parties and events and activities are also being organised for the King's Coronation.
Following the sad passing of Her Majesty The Queen, the council co-ordinated tributes for the borough's communities to pay their respects.
A memorial was installed at Breakspear Crematorium to remember the borough's residents who tragically lost their lives to COVID-19.
A green and sustainable borough
4 more green spaces were awarded prestigious Green Flag Awards, bringing the borough's total to 67 - the most flags held by any other local authority for the tenth year running.
Free, weekly waste and recycling collections continue across the borough. In autumn 2022, the council changed some of the borough's waste and recycling collection days to improve the rounds, make them more efficient and reduce carbon emissions.
Between January and February 2023, Hillingdon's general waste decreased by 11 per cent, dry mixed recycling was up by 18 per cent and food waste recycling increased by 8 per cent in comparison to the same period in 2022.
In 2022, the council ran its first Zero Waste Challenge, with 100 residents participating and reducing their general waste by 28 per cent and food waste and dry mixed recycling by 22 per cent. The council also held its first repair and reuse drop-in event and continued to host recycling roadshows across the borough.
Restoration works totalling £4 million are continuing at Cranford Park to transform the heritage site into a thriving visitor attraction.
More than 17,295 trees and whips have been planted across the borough, this includes our ongoing work with Trees for Streets to provide a tree sponsorship scheme and Trees for Cities who have planted 8,686 trees in three of our parks and open spaces.
14 new wildflower verges were created to improve biodiversity, bringing the borough's total to 52 colourful verges and 32 wildflower meadows. During May, the council joined the 'No Mow May' initiative once again to enrich the local ecology.
13 more schools have benefited from green screens to create a natural air filtering barrier between the schools and nearby roads.
A new newt waterway and flood defence scheme was created at Hillingdon House Farm, flood protecting rain gardens were built in Hayes and three anti-flooding schemes were created at Bessingby Park, Elephant Park and Hillingdon Court Park.
More than £5 million has been spent on maintaining the borough's road network and lighting. 24 roads and 13 pavements have been resurfaced, major bridge improvements took place in Hayes, 625 light columns were replaced, and 202 lights and 21 Belisha beacons were retrofitted with LEDs to reduce energy consumption.
Thriving, healthy households
The council supported residents with the increased cost of living through a range of government and local discretionary schemes, including administering the council tax energy rebate and household support fund. 5,284 households received help with their energy and water bills as part of the household support fund scheme which ran between April 2022 and September 2022, with 31,767 food vouchers issued to eligible school children. For the scheme running from October 2022 to date, 5,708 households have received help with their energy and water bills, and 30,040 food vouchers were sent to eligible children.
Our Holiday Activities and Food programme also supported 1,312 children and young people during the Easter holidays, 1,747 during the summer holidays and 1,102 during the Christmas holidays with activities.
Residents are enjoying new and improved facilities at Hillingdon Sports and Leisure Complex and Highgrove Pool and Fitness Centre thanks to a £1.5 million investment from the council.
Work is underway to deliver a brand-new leisure centre in West Drayton.
Proposals are being developed for a new water sports and outdoor activity centre.
Hillingdon was ranked first in the capital for offering children their parents' first preference and top in west London across all preferences in April's Primary School National Offer Day. In 2022, 94 per cent of pupils were also offered one of their preferred secondary school places.
In summer 2022, more than 1,262 children participated in the council's low-cost summer holiday activity programme Fiesta and 3,000 children, parents and carers attended Hillingdon's eighth Playday event. A new winter Playday was attended by 400 people.
Nearly 6,000 children joined the libraries' Summer Reading Challenge in 2022, which saw 109,000 books issued to participants between July and September and 1,400 children joining the library to take part.
A new 6 bed respite home - The Retreat - for people in need of mental health support outside of a clinical setting was opened in Ruislip - a joint venture between the council, Central and North West London's NHS Foundation Trust and the Integrated Care Board.
In November, The Princess of Wales made a special visit to the borough to see how the council and partners are working together in an exemplary way to support women through their pregnancies and early motherhood.
A digital-enabled, modern, well-run council
The council launched its strategy for 2022-2026, outlining its ongoing commitment to putting residents first.
The council continues to oppose Transport for London and the Mayor of London's Ultra Low Emission Zone plans and launched a Judicial Review alongside four other councils in February.
The council has developed a draft Library Service Strategy 2023-27 for consultation.
The council successfully introduced a virtual permits system, making it easier for residents to apply for and renew permits online.
Loss prevention savings to the value of £11.6 million have been identified by the council's fraud team.
A new voice automation system was introduced in the council's contact centre to support residents in transacting digitally with the council as part of our strategy to maximise the use of digital platforms.
A thriving economy
The council has formed a civic partnership with Brunel University London which will see both organisations work collaboratively to foster positive opportunities for the borough.
A brand-new adult education centre was created at Uxbridge Civic Centre, relocating the former Brookfield Adult Learning Centre. The service, which offers hundreds of courses each year, was also rebranded as Learn Hillingdon: Adult Community Education.
The council continues to support residents with employment opportunities, including apprenticeships and working with education providers to fund roles in a variety of sectors.
In 2022, 6 young people received funding from the council's Tashan Daniel Award to pursue their ambitions in sport and culture.
