BUDGET UPDATE

At a Full Council meeting held in February, the Council announced that their application to the government for a capitalisation direction was approved. This means that a loan of up to £54 million had been agreed to avoid Havering Council having to issue a S114 notice and declare themselves bankrupt.

This confirmation of a Loan being made available enabled the HRA/Labour administration to present and agree their Budget proposals for 2024/25 however they did not specify how they are going to pay back this loan and what actions they are taking to prevent any further borrowing.
Despite Harold Wood Councillors efforts along with other opposition members efforts to amend several aspects of the budget proposals, the HRA/Labour‘s budget for 2024/25 was agreed.

Budget Summary Increases

• Council tax to rise by 4.99% plus the Mayor of London’s precept
• Average cost for a number of Council services will rise by of 8%
• 20% increase for Pay and Display Parking charges
• 12.5% increase for Residential Parking permits
• 20% increase for Garden Waste Collection Service (Bin hire)
• 7% rise for Hiring of Football pitches
• There will also be a number of Service cuts – for example :
• Romford Sunday Market to close
• Significant reduction in the number of Libraries
• 30% reduction in Street Lighting
• SEND transport will be cut by 200k

Our proposed amendment would have retained the SEND School transport service provision, saved trading for the Romford Sunday Market, stopped the increase in charges for residential parking permits as well as the increase for hiring of football pitches.

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