Tax cut in H&F

Hammersmith & Fulham Council has agreed Britain’s biggest council tax cut.

Bills will be 3% lower in Hammersmith & Fulham from April 2014 – 20% lower than eight years ago.

The cut, which was agreed at the council’s annual Budget meeting, means residents will pay the third lowest council tax in the UK.

Nationally, one in three authorities is planning to increase council tax for 2014/15 while 65% of authorities are set to freeze and 4% intend to cut, according to analysis from the Local Government Chronicle.

It is the seventh year out of eight that H&F Council has cut its share of the bill – which will now be £735 for a ‘Band D’ taxpayer from April 2014.

Cllr Nicholas Botterill, H&F Council Leader, said: “We have saved local taxpayers £848 over eight years, which is the price of a small family holiday, as we believe it is essential that councils do all they can to help hard-working families by delivering quality services at the lowest possible cost.”

The council says the tax reduction is possible as it has saved money by sharing management posts with neighbouring boroughs; halving its historic £176million debt and by reforming the way front-line services are delivered.

“From a lower cost base we are now able to rapidly respond to the needs of our residents,” continues Cllr Botterill. “This approach has allowed us to cut bills by 20 per cent while residents’ satisfaction has climbed to new heights.”