H&F Council 'To Be Only One to Freeze Council Tax'

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Also predicts residents will pay less in 2017 than 20 years ago

Hammersmith & Fulham Council is predicting that it is likely to be the only one in the country to freeze council tax in 2017.

This, it says, means it is delivering the country’s best value for money for residents, and resisting pressure from Government to raise council tax bills by four per cent a year.

It follows a freeze last year and a cut in 2015-16.

The council also adds that it will be the only one to charge residents less now than 20 years ago.

The news comes as residents in neighbouring areas, like Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster, are likely to face tax hikes.

“We know how tough times have got for our residents which is why I’m pleased that we’re the most effective council tax-cutting administration in the country,” says H&F Council Leader, Cllr Stephen Cowan.

“We’re also the only council to abolish charges for home care for elderly and disabled people. We have in fact reduced the majority of council charges in real terms. We’ve done all this at a time when the government is telling us to put council tax up four per cent and punitively basing its funding of us on the assumption we’ll increase council tax.

“We’re taking a hard-nosed approach to council finances which includes ruthlessly changing custom and practices and modernising how the council operates so it delivers more help for more people and improves customer satisfaction.”

The council is set to fix the standard Band D charge at its current level of £727.81 (£1,007.83 including the GLA precept) at a meeting on 22 February. It means H&F bills are likely to remain the third lowest in the country.

John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: “When hard-pressed families are struggling with ever rising bills, it is crucial that councils do everything they can to ease the burden on residents. Hammersmith Council has a proud record of cutting council tax so residents will be relieved that their bills won't be going up next year.”

January 6, 2017