New budget puts Hillingdon's residents first and protects frontline services
Friday 17 December 2021: Hillingdon Council continues to put residents first after approving a budget that continues to invest in vital frontline services and local infrastructure.
The budget - which includes no cuts to services - reflects the council's continuing record of sound financial management.
Residents will continue to benefit from free weekly waste and recycling collections will continue, as will investment in leisure facilities, road resurfacing, new homes, improvement works to council housing, new school places (including those for children with special educational needs) and town centre improvements.
Provision has also been made within this budget for reductions in the council's carbon footprint.
Council tax is set to increase by just 2.8 per cent. This includes a core council tax increase of 1.8 per cent and a 1 per cent levy relating to the social care precept (income that is ringfenced to fund residents' adult social care). In practice this equates to an increase of 67p a week for a Band D property.
Fees and charges are proposed to be increased broadly in line with the rate of inflation.
The council's planned budget is set to be achieved through a combination of the council delivering manageable increases in council tax, fees and charges, and producing efficiency savings, while maintaining and improving services for residents and preserving reserves.
Our business improvement delivery programme is producing savings by digitising processes, creating more modern and efficient services, streamlining management structures and maximising the use of the council's assets.
The limited increases in council tax, fees and charges are due to the rising cost of providing services. This is driven by inflation and a growing population.
Cllr Martin Goddard, Hillingdon Council's Cabinet Member for Finance, said: "Being fiscally astute will allow us to continue with a programme of capital investment and no loss of services for residents.
"By keeping our council tax increase below the rate of inflation it means more money in residents' pockets for the things they need, during a particularly challenging time for everyone.
"Our strong record of sound financial management sets us apart as a local authority, and means we're able to support households amidst the national rise in living costs while continuing to protect frontline services, maintaining and investing in the services that residents value, and supporting the borough's COVID-19 recovery."