Leader’s
Notes
“There is record demand
for vital services.”
Councillor Julian Bell
Leader of the council
After nine years of ongoing cuts many councils are on the brink of
bankruptcy and austerity is far from over.
This same period has seen our government funding cut by 64p in every
pound, and the council had little choice but to put up core council tax by
2.99% for the 2019/20 financial year. I am sure you will have received your
bills through the post by now.
Indeed, with just 36p remaining of each pound we used to get in
government funding, we, like other councils, are having no choice but to
take some painful decisions to make ends meet.
As we went to press we
were awaiting the result of the
‘meaningful votes’ on Brexit in Parliament
to decide the future of our country.
As you will know, the council backed calls
for a People’s Vote to give the public
a chance to have a say on what should
happen next. The limbo we have been
in has done nothing for the businesses
or residents of our borough, including
the thousands of people living here who
originally came from other EU countries
and have endured all kinds of worry and
uncertainty.
We have kept the European flag flying
above Ealing Town Hall for weeks. It is
not just symbolic of the European Union
but, more broadly, of the unity of Europe.
We want people to know everyone is
welcome in Ealing.
Residents and businesses can visit
www.ealing.gov.uk/brexit for advice.
The council decided it should also pass on the government’s 1% social care
levy, which is a separate charge to help pay towards the care of older people
and adults with additional needs. This means the average council tax bill will
rise by £1.38 a week from April 2019.
There is record demand for vital services protecting vulnerable residents,
including adult social care, child protection and homelessness.
We spend roughly £7million pounds a month on social care, yet the increase in
core council tax would only give us about £3.6million pounds to cover the whole
year – which helps to explain the scale of our financial challenge.
After the 2.99% increase in the core council tax and adding the government’s
1% social care precept, the Band D council tax for 2019/20 will be £1,512.12.
This also includes the Greater London Authority (GLA) precept, which pays
for the Metropolitan Police, the London Fire Brigade, Transport for London
and other services managed by the GLA.
We have been doing all we can to protect frontline services. But, as I
explained in the last two editions of Around Ealing, the council is facing up
to a budget gap of £57million. This year, the council has managed to identify
£24million of savings. This has involved making efficiency savings, cutting
back-office functions and tiers of management and changing some services.
In addition, the council’s Future Ealing programme means it is constantly
reviewing how it spends its money to make sure it can prioritise improving
the lives of people in greatest need.
The full budget strategy report is available on the
council’s website at www.ealing.gov.uk/committees
and by clicking on the 12 February cabinet meeting.