Council Tax Rise in Hillingdon After Decade of Freeze
Budget meeting has confirmed that council tax in Hillingdon will rise following ten consecutive years of frozen rates.
Hillingdon residents will see a 2.4% increase in council tax, which will cost the taxpayer an additional £26.71 per year, or 51p per week for a Band D household – average household.
Leader of the Council, Councillor Ray Puddifoot said: “We have a record of strong financial management, and despite significant reductions in funding from central government, we were able to ensure no rises in council tax for a decade.
“However, with a population rising at both ends of the spectrum, the council is seeing an increase in demand for central services, so a small rise in council tax for other residents is now needed to contribute an additional £2.7 million a year towards maintaining services and care for those who need our help.”
The Hillingdon element of the council tax has remained £1,112.93 per year for the past ten years.
Additionally, Hillingdon’s council tax discount for older people will be retained in 2019/20, providing a 7.11% discount for those joining before 31 March 2019 and a 2.34% discount to those joining after 31 March 2019. This relates to Hillingdon’s element of the council tax.
Cllr Puddifoot added: “We will continue to put the needs of our residents at the heart of everything we do, successfully delivering balanced budgets while maintaining and improving the services that matter most to people across the borough.”
Residents in Band A households will now be paying £973.43 per year while Band H households will be paying £2,920.30 per year.
Leader of the Labour group, Councillor Peter Curling, said: “The short answer is, they [the council] should have been putting council tax up previously, I think it was foolish of them not to.”
Councillor Jazz Dhillon (Labour, Pinkwell) said: “It is fairly irresponsible to do, if you think about it, all they’ve [the council] done is cut services year-on-year.”
However, Cllr Puddifoot hit back by saying the Labour councillors were talking “…inane dribble.” He said: “Why would we have put up [council] tax when we don’t need to.”
He said the council was investing into Hillingdon’s roads, libraries, schools and scout programs. He added: “There haven’t been service cuts, we are investing.”
Despite the 2.4% increase in council tax, Hillingdon’s council tax rates remain lower than the surrounding London boroughs of Ealing, Harrow and Hounslow.
Jade Wood, of Sanderson Rd, said: “I believe Hillingdon is one of the better London boroughs which is why, I hope, the increase is justified,” while Jacob Morris, of Clayton Way, said: “I can’t understand the council tax rise, especially as it is so expensive to live in London anyway.”
Christopher Priest, of Whitethorn Ave, said: “The council has done a good in keeping down the [council] tax over the years, so an increase is expected.”
Hillingdon council has stated that in 2019/2020, council tax will contribute primarily to services such as adult social care, cultural, environmental and planning services, children’s social care and educational services.
For more information on council tax in Hillingdon, please visit: https://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/counciltax
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