by Benson Agoha | Woolwich
Royal Borough of Greenwich residents will see a rise in Council Tax in 2016/17, as the council commits to protect services for the most vulnerable in the borough.
The news was confirmed at a meeting of the full council on Wednesday (February 24). It means that in April, the borough’s portion of what people pay in council tax will rise the first time in nine years.
Education, social care, libraries, leisure facilities, refuse collection, parks and street cleaning are just some of the services funding supports. Council tax also helps pay for the London Fire Brigade, Met Police and the Greater London Authority (GLA), as well as flood defences.
In Royal Greenwich, the rise is set against the backdrop of a four-year savings programme which includes reducing staff costs by £20 million, creating new efficiencies and encouraging more online transactions.
Councillor Denise Hyland (pictured), Leader, Royal Borough of Greenwich, said: “The increase results from changes in the way that local councils are funded by the Government, which has allocated its funding on the assumption that councils would raise council tax by two per cent to cover the increasing cost of adult social care services and also that it expects councils to raise council tax by a further amount to cover inflation."
“This means Council Tax in the borough will rise by 2% for adult social care. We have taken the decision to increase Council Tax by an additional 1.99% for children’s social care, an equivalent of an average increase of 42p per month per household."
“We are also making wide-ranging changes to services to ensure they are delivered more efficiently – while at the same time offering support to help people become more self-reliant. Even so, the level of demand for care services continues to rise, which means we need to plan ahead and ensure sufficient services are in place."
"The proposals for an increase in council tax – Greenwich’s first in nine years – will help ensure those services can continue to meet the needs of the most vulnerable people in our community.”
Help for residents:
Some residents may be entitled to discounts and other forms of assistance for their council tax bills:
* People who live alone or who are full-time students may be eligible for a 25 per cent discount;
* For people who have had their home adapted for someone with a disability, the amount of council tax may be reduced - call 020 8921 4147 for an application form;
* Those on a low income and with savings of less than £16,000 may be able to apply for the Low Council Tax Support scheme;
* People paying rent and on a low income may be entitled to housing benefit - for more information call 020 8921 4900.
Information about all discounts and exemptions can be found at:www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/counciltax.
The news was confirmed at a meeting of the full council on Wednesday (February 24). It means that in April, the borough’s portion of what people pay in council tax will rise the first time in nine years.
Education, social care, libraries, leisure facilities, refuse collection, parks and street cleaning are just some of the services funding supports. Council tax also helps pay for the London Fire Brigade, Met Police and the Greater London Authority (GLA), as well as flood defences.
In Royal Greenwich, the rise is set against the backdrop of a four-year savings programme which includes reducing staff costs by £20 million, creating new efficiencies and encouraging more online transactions.
Councillor Denise Hyland (pictured), Leader, Royal Borough of Greenwich, said: “The increase results from changes in the way that local councils are funded by the Government, which has allocated its funding on the assumption that councils would raise council tax by two per cent to cover the increasing cost of adult social care services and also that it expects councils to raise council tax by a further amount to cover inflation."
“This means Council Tax in the borough will rise by 2% for adult social care. We have taken the decision to increase Council Tax by an additional 1.99% for children’s social care, an equivalent of an average increase of 42p per month per household."
“We are also making wide-ranging changes to services to ensure they are delivered more efficiently – while at the same time offering support to help people become more self-reliant. Even so, the level of demand for care services continues to rise, which means we need to plan ahead and ensure sufficient services are in place."
"The proposals for an increase in council tax – Greenwich’s first in nine years – will help ensure those services can continue to meet the needs of the most vulnerable people in our community.”
Help for residents:
Some residents may be entitled to discounts and other forms of assistance for their council tax bills:
* People who live alone or who are full-time students may be eligible for a 25 per cent discount;
* For people who have had their home adapted for someone with a disability, the amount of council tax may be reduced - call 020 8921 4147 for an application form;
* Those on a low income and with savings of less than £16,000 may be able to apply for the Low Council Tax Support scheme;
* People paying rent and on a low income may be entitled to housing benefit - for more information call 020 8921 4900.
Information about all discounts and exemptions can be found at:www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/counciltax.
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