Hounslow Council has today released proposals for its 2024/25 Budget which continues to support hard pressed residents and protects front line services despite Tory economic mismanagement over the last 14 years.

Tory Government managed decline has brought public services to crisis point, with a wave of damage being caused by an absent Government unwilling to reform and invest in key policies such as health, social care, asylum and housing. Local Government has been hit the hardest and Councils across the UK are facing challenging financial times as funding goes down and demand for vital services goes up. However, despite these challenges, your Labour-run Hounslow Council has proposed an ambitious and responsible budget which continues to deliver on your aspirations for a better and more prosperous future for all residents and businesses in Hounslow.

During the last year, your Hounslow Labour Administration has delivered on local people’s priorities:

• Setting up Community and Family Hubs, delivering services closer to home for residents
• Supporting 4,100 adults with social care needs and 3,000 children and young people with special education needs
• Planting over 8,000 trees and introducing Net-Zero neighbourhoods
• Building hundreds of high quality, energy efficient new houses
• Increasing recycling with 103,000 households’ recycling collected each week
• Providing £1.2 million in funding for community and voluntary groups

In order to continue to deliver these vital services for residents, the proposals will be considering a Council Tax increase by 4.99%; this is the percentage the Government assumes local authorities will add to their bills next year. This includes 2% ringfenced for adult social care, a critical investment to help meet the rising costs and demand for these services whilst supporting some of the most vulnerable in our society.

However, the proposals include no cuts to services this year to ensure residents are protected from the worst excesses of Tory austerity.

Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, Leader of Hounslow Council said:

“After 14 years of Tory Government, there is no doubt to us all that our public services have been decimated and it is our local services that have been bearing the brunt.

“Despite these challenges, our Labour administration here in Hounslow have ensured a balanced budget year after year, but also worked hard to protect our residents who rely on public services from the worst of the ravages of Tory decline. Whether it be our Council Tax Support Scheme which aims to provide 100% support to those most vulnerable in the borough, our support for the poorest families across Hounslow during the school holidays, our Cost of Living workshops or our Warm Homes initiative, we are a Council which is here for you, thinking outside of the box in order to help you and strengthen our services in the face of Tory mismanagement. 

“Raising council tax is never an easy decision, however the sad fact is that Government funding has been reducing over the last 14 years whilst demand and costs have increased. Inflation is still rampant and outpaces any income from Council Tax meaning that we have to continue thinking about how best to offer the services you rely on whilst delivering value for money. Due to the funding situation, many Councils are finding themselves unable to offer vital services. Hounslow Labour has very carefully managed your money over the years and as a result is able to protect front line services at a time when they are needed the most. 

“This is why I’m proud to announce that we will be proposing no cuts to services in our Budget proposals, to ensure we can continue to deliver a real difference to residents’ lives and outcomes.“

The Budget proposals will go to Hounslow Council’s Cabinet meeting on Tuesday 20 February, before being debated by Full Council on Tuesday 27 February when Hounslow Council’s Budget for 2024/25 will be set.

Notes:

• The papers for Hounslow Council’s Budget 2024/25 can be found here: https://democraticservices.hounslow.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=571&MId=12917