Agenda item

This report provides an update on the overall preparation and proposals for the 2025/26 revenue budget, risks, financial resilience, and the impact of those proposals. It also sets out the budget proposals for the services covered by this Policy and Accountability Committee (PAC). An update is also provided on any proposed changes in fees and charges in the budget.

Corporate Budget

Councillor Rowan Ree, Cabinet Member for Finance and Reform, introduced the item that provided details on the proposals for the 2025/26 revenue budget – including the risks, financial resilience, and impact of those proposals. 

He explained this had been achieved through ruthless financial efficiency and reforming how services were delivered. The following points were noted:

• The Net General Fund Revenue Budget was £221m.  

• The financial environment, including reduced revenue funding, changing demographics and a sluggish national economy. 

• The key objectives of the financial plan: Ensuring the safety of residents, businesses and visitors, protecting the statutory services and other Council services valued by residents. Promoting prosperity, running an efficient council, and preserving low council tax rates. 

• The budget headlines for 2025/26 included: Investing £3.5m in community safety and crime prevention, relieving pressure on statutory services, investing in the Upstream Industrial Strategy, tackling climate change and investing in sports facilities. 

Councillor Rowan Ree noted that the Revenue Budget would be presented to the Cabinet and Budget Council in February 2025 and thanked cabinet members and officers for their work in realising a balanced budget over the past year. 

Departmental Budget

Kellie Gooch - Head of Finance (Place) gave a presentation of the budget for the Place Directorate. The following key achievements were noted:

• Keeping the borough clean through waste / recycling collections and street sweeping.
• Minimising waste and increasing recycling.
• Maintaining 53 excellent parks and open spaces.
• Delivering 4 leisure centres and 1 swimming pool, at a net annual income to the Council (no cost to the Council).
• Providing a warm and safe space for 625,000 Library visitors every year.
• Keeping roads and pavements in good order and clear of obstacles.
• Rising to the challenge of the climate and ecological emergency.
• Pushing ahead with the Council’s pioneering Industrial Strategy - “Upstream London”.
• Consistently meeting learner targets, attracting full grant funding for Adult Learning & Skills (at no cost to H&F).
• Implementing the Council’s cultural strategy.

Kellie Gooch, (Head of Finance, Place) also updated members on the budget changes and future strategic budget risks. These included Hammersmith Bridge works, waste collection and meeting service costs, national inflationary pressures and challenges to secure funding for the Corporate Business Plan objectives.

In relation to waste disposal, general waste to recycling, Councillor Adam Peter Lang highlighted that he had received a considerable amount of case work on topic which had now largely gone. He took the opportunity to thank the officer teams for both improving the environment and saving costs in this area. He asked if there was a grant available to the Council in relation to household cardboard.

In response, Kellie Gooch, Head of Finance Place explained the aim of the £1.8 million funding from the government (extended producer responsibility) was to charge the producers of the waste and in doing so, incentivise them to reduce the amount of packaging. Councillor Adam Peter Lang highlighted the issue of the loss of public toilets across London, and suggested this could be looked at in relation to parks at some point in the future. 

Councillor Adam Peter Lang asked for an update in relation to Linford Christie Stadium. In response Mark Raisbeck, Director of Public Realm explained that the changing rooms had just been demolished and replacement facilities were being installed. He also highlighted that the running track would also be upgraded later in the year which would boost user numbers and increase revenue.

Councillor Ashok Patel asked three questions. Firstly, he noted that £3.4 million was earmarked for the Law Enforcement Team which he commended. He asked what was being done to increase participation from the Police, or Police numbers so the Council could reduce its expenditure on the LET in future. Secondly, with regards to the receipts for domestic rates, he noted that four in ten households were exempt and asked for further details on this. And finally, he asked about the proposal to balance the 2025/26 budget and the savings and efficiencies of £5.1 million and asked for a further explanation to be provided.

In response, Councillor Rowan Ree, Cabinet Member for Finance and Reform acknowledged that crime and anti-social behaviour was probably the most prevalent issue raised by residents. He provided an overview of the fall in Police numbers and activity and highlighted how important the LET had become in terms of preventing crime in the borough. And while there was a need for the LET it would continue to be funded through the base budget. He also provided details of the council’s Gangs Unit as well as work being done to reduce violence against women and girls.

With regards to four in ten receiving discounts, he explained this was part of the Council tax support scheme. He provided details of how the scheme worked, which residents were assisted and highlighted that Hammersmith and Fulham was one of only three London Boroughs that offered 100% discount to the most vulnerable. Finally, in relation to the £5.1 million, Councillor Rowan Ree explained this was the total figure for efficiencies across the whole of the Council for the year.

Adding further details, Kellie Gooch explained that in the last year alone, LET had carried out over 100,000 investigations and patrols. Over 4,000 weapons sweeps were conducted and over 2,000 fines were issued. And since the LET was formed in 2021, there had been a 22% reduction in reports of anti-social behaviour reported to the Police.

The Chair, Councillor Rory Vaughan welcomed the LET had been moved into the base budget to secure its future funding. Clearly the LET was highly regarded and much needed. He highlighted its work in Coningham ward and how instances of anti-social behaviour had been reduced. The Committee noted the impact of extractions (where Hammersmith and Fulham officers were often redeployed to hotspots such as Westminster) and acknowledged the role LET played.

Councillor Rory Vaughan welcomed the funding available to upgrade sports facilities, such as the recent improvements to Hammersmith Park, which he hoped could be rolled out across the borough. He asked for further details to be provided on general sports improvements and what scope there was to enhance sporting opportunities across the borough (such as padel tennis courts). The Chair welcomed the work on enforcement around advertising boards and time banded commercial waste collections. Not only the revenue this generated, but also in terms of ensuring clear footways, which were of particular concern to disabled residents as set out in the equalities impact assessment.

In response, Mark Raisbeck commented that what was reflected was a general improvement in ongoing maintenance to increase standards across the borough. He also explained that officers were currently working on a Sports Facilities Improvement Programme which could be brought to a future committee meeting. He confirmed there was no further progress on padel tennis, but officers were in contact with a number of potential organisations and were looking at potential sites for courts.

In relation to time banded collections, he explained this work was ongoing and was particularly targeted at those locations with the highest footfall in the borough such as King Street and Uxbridge Road. With the express intention of limiting the time waste was spending on the footway both causing an eyesore as well as potential trip hazards to pedestrians. In relation to advertising Boards, Mark Raisbeck confirmed this was a licensing issue, as well as ensuring that their placement did not cause an obstruction on the highways for pedestrians. It was noted that offices were working on a programme to deliver improvements in this specific area.

Summing up, the Chair thanked Councillor Rowan Ree, Cabinet colleagues and the Finance officer team for their work to deliver the budget. He confirmed the committee would look forward to a series of further updates on the topics identified in the discussions.

RESOLVED

1. That the Policy and Accountability Committee (PAC) considers the budget proposals and makes recommendations to Cabinet as appropriate.

2. That the PAC considers the proposed changes to fees and charges and makes recommendations as appropriate