East London borough approves budget with cuts to street cleaning, motorbike charges, plus raising council tax for residents.
They must cut some services. Street cleaning will be reduced, and they are reviewing enforcement services. Motorcycle parking will cost £3 per day. Council members also voted on a three-year financial plan.
Council Leader Twomey presented the budget. He mentioned challenges like rising costs, poverty, and increasing homelessness. Rents and mortgages went up too.
He spoke about years of economic sluggishness and noted the rising cost of living. The borough faces high levels of deprivation and increasing demand for council services. Residents struggle with living costs, and a lot of money goes to social care.
The borough’s population grew a lot. One in four residents are under sixteen. Council tax will increase by 4.99 percent, with some for adult social care (2%) and the other 2.99 percent going to the council.
Council tax for a Band D home rose to £1,607.76, an increase from £1,531.35. The domestic abuse support service will still get funding. Concerns from a committee reversed earlier plans to stop funding.
Councilor Achilleos thanked officers for the reversal, citing the high rate of abuse locally. He thinks not reducing services is positive, and people who use them will be grateful.
Councilor Rice questioned service improvements, wondering if changes would occur. Some residents are unhappy with street cleaning. She feels the tax rise is unsustainable and asked about future tax increases.
Councilor Twomey said they would consider next year later. They do not know future funding levels, so predictions would be unwise. Cuts to street cleaning worry residents; often, litter is overflowing from bins.
A resident started a petition about litter issues. The council said they fine people for littering, are installing bins, and are checking problem areas. The budget passed with 42 votes for and one against.
The council changed council tax support, cutting it by up to 22 percent. This impacts low-income residents. They are setting aside £500,000 for a fund to aid vulnerable residents.
Councilor Twomey called it a hard decision that impacts many, including the vulnerable. He hopes they can improve the scheme later, as the change would have cost £1 million more. New scheme details will be public in March 2025, with changes starting on April 1.