Agenda item

That Cabinet is recommended to consider this report, and make the following recommendations to Full Council for approval, for the reasons set out in this report and appendices:

1. To approve a balanced budget for 2025/26 as set out in the report, including the underlying principles and assumptions.

2. To approve £12.3m of new investment on key services for residents.
3. To increase the Hammersmith & Fulham element of Council Tax by 2.99% as modelled by the Government in its spending power calculations for local government.

4. To apply the Adult Social Care precept levy of 2% as modelled bythe Government in its spending power calculations for local government.

5. To approve fees and charges, as set out in Appendix E, including freezing charges in adult social care, children’s services, and General Fund housing.
6. To approve the Medium-Term Financial Strategy and to note the proposed funding reforms from 2026/27 onwards and budget projections to 2028/29 made by the Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Services in consultation with the Strategic Leadership Team. (Appendix B)
7. To note the statement of the Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Services, under Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003, regarding the adequacy of reserves and robustness of estimates (paragraph 66).
8. To approve the reserves strategy and forecast as set out in Appendix H.
9. To require all Directors to report on their projected financial position compared to their revenue estimates in accordance with the Corporate Revenue Monitoring Report timetable.
10. To authorise Directors to implement their service spending plans for 2025/26 in accordance with the recommendations within this report, the council’s Standing Orders, Financial Regulations, relevant Schemes of Delegation and undertake any further consultation required regarding the Equalities Impact Assessment.
11. Set the council’s element of Council Tax for 2025/26 for each category of dwelling, as outlined in the table below and in full in Appendix A and calculated in accordance with Sections 31A to 49B of the Localism Act 2011.

12. To note, based on the Mayor of London’s draft consolidated budget, the element of Council Tax to be charged by the Greater London Authority in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 for each of the categories of dwellings as shown in the table below.

13.That the overall Council Tax to be set at £1,451.42 per Band D property as follows:

14.To authorise the Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Services to collect and recover National Non-Domestic Rate and Council Tax in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (as amended), the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and the Council’s Scheme of Delegation.

15.To note the Council’s estimated position on the Collection Fund (as set out in paragraph 60).

16.To note the performance on the management of arrears across the Council on all debts due (as set out from paragraph 71).

Councillor Rowan Ree, Cabinet Member for Finance and Reform, introduced the Council’s Revenue Budget for 2025/26 which was a budget to fund the fight against crime and anti-social behaviour in Hammersmith and Fulham, investing both in fighting crime but also fighting the causes of crime. Despite financial austerity, £12.3 million of new investment had been allocated to vital Council services, £3.4 million of that was going direct towards crime prevention through the Council’s Law Enforcement Team and Gangs Unit, including additional investment to tackle Violence against Women and Girls, £2.8 million towards Adult Social Care, £2.2 million for Children Services, £1.8 million for Waste Collection and Disposal Services, and £1.2 million towards homelessness prevention.

Councillor Ree thanked Sukvinder Kalsi, Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Services, the finance officers and the Cabinet Members who had been involved in balancing the budget across the various departments, ensuring that the Council continued to offer a Ruthlessly Financially Efficient approach to managing its finances.

The Leader added that the Ruthlessly Financially Efficient approach started in 2014 following the government cuts in funding. As a result of new efficiencies, new technology, modernisation programs, harder negotiations with contractors and winning significant developer contributions, the Council had been able to provide new services. The Council introduced free breakfast for all school children, free adult social care and, most importantly of all, the Council’s own Law Enforcement Officers. It was the Council’s priority to keep its residents safe and fighting against crime.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE CABINET MEMBERS:

That Cabinet is recommended to consider this report, and make the following recommendations to Full Council for approval, for the reasons set out in this report and appendices:

1. To approve a balanced budget for 2025/26 as set out in the report, including the underlying principles and assumptions.

2. To approve £12.3m of new investment on key services for residents.
3. To increase the Hammersmith & Fulham element of Council Tax by 2.99% as modelled by the Government in its spending power calculations for local government.

4. To apply the Adult Social Care precept levy of 2% as modelled bythe Government in its spending power calculations for local government.

5. To approve fees and charges, as set out in Appendix E, including freezing charges in adult social care, children’s services, and General Fund housing.
6. To approve the Medium-Term Financial Strategy and to note the proposed funding reforms from 2026/27 onwards and budget projections to 2028/29 made by the Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Services in consultation with the Strategic Leadership Team. (Appendix B)
7. To note the statement of the Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Services, under Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003, regarding the adequacy of reserves and robustness of estimates (paragraph 66).
8. To approve the reserves strategy and forecast as set out in Appendix H.
9. To require all Directors to report on their projected financial position compared to their revenue estimates in accordance with the Corporate Revenue Monitoring Report timetable.
10. To authorise Directors to implement their service spending plans for 2025/26 in accordance with the recommendations within this report, the council’s Standing Orders, Financial Regulations, relevant Schemes of Delegation and undertake any further consultation required regarding the Equalities Impact Assessment.
11. Set the council’s element of Council Tax for 2025/26 for each category of dwelling, as outlined in the table below and in full in Appendix A and calculated in accordance with Sections 31A to 49B of the Localism Act 2011.

12. To note, based on the Mayor of London’s draft consolidated budget, the element of Council Tax to be charged by the Greater London Authority in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 for each of the categories of dwellings as shown in the table below.

13.That the overall Council Tax to be set at £1,451.42 per Band D property as follows:

14.To authorise the Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Services to collect and recover National Non-Domestic Rate and Council Tax in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (as amended), the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and the Council’s Scheme of Delegation.

15.To note the Council’s estimated position on the Collection Fund (as set out in paragraph 60).

16.To note the performance on the management of arrears across the Council on all debts due (as set out from paragraph 71).