Hillingdon Council approves 2023/24 budget that continues to put residents first

Despite government funding not meeting the additional cost pressures being experienced by local authorities, particularly the increase in the cost of and demand for social care services, the council continues to ensure it delivers a balanced budget and award-winning services.  

Free weekly waste and recycling collections will continue, as well as investment in road and pavement resurfacing, new homes, leisure facilities, town centre improvements, educational facilities and environmental projects to reduce the council's carbon footprint.  

To minimise the funding requirement from residents, the council's transformation programme continues at pace and has a savings target of £21 million for 2023/24.  

Following years of charging one of the lowest levels of fees and charges across all London boroughs, the updated fees and charges bring Hillingdon more in line with the charges set by other outer London boroughs and recover more of the costs for discretionary services from those residents accessing these services rather than these being subsidised by every council taxpayer.  

Core council tax will increase by 2.99 per cent and the adult social care levy will be set at 2 per cent. In practice, this equates to a total increase of £1.21 a week for a Band D property.  

Hillingdon residents will continue to pay amongst the lowest levels of council tax in outer London and our fees and charges are the third lowest of all outer London boroughs. 

Cllr Martin Goddard, Hillingdon Council's Cabinet Member for Finance, said: "It is clearer than ever that government grants are nowhere near meeting the additional cost pressures for local services, particularly the demand for social care services, which is putting a huge strain on local authorities right across the country against the backdrop of challenging economic conditions nationally and internationally.  

"Despite this, the council is continuing to deliver a balanced budget thanks to its track record of sound financial management, producing efficiency savings, and preserving reserves - as well as maintaining and investing in services for residents." 

Highlights of Hillingdon Council's five-year capital programme include:  

• £565 million for housing.  
• £35 million for a new leisure centre in West Drayton. 
• £35 million investment in the borough's road and pavements network.  
• £25 million for a new outdoor activity centre to replace those displaced by HS2.  
• £25 million investment in initiatives to reduce the borough's carbon footprint. 
• £25 million towards the creation of more school places for children with special educational needs.  
• £22 million to improve existing school buildings.  
• £17 million for equipment for social care clients 
• £6 million for the council's Chrysalis scheme - which allows residents to choose how money is invested in their communities.  
• £3 million on town centre improvements.