Hammersmith and Fulham Council are cutting council tax faster than any other local authority.
By Freddy Mayhew and Helen Wright
Residents in Hammersmith and Fulham have something to smile about this weekend as council tax was decreased for the fifth year.
The drop in tax by 3.75 per cent came not from the council itself, but from a change in residents’ habits.
With 50,000 residents preferring to use online accounts and dropping less litter in the streets, the council has been able to save money through reduced administration costs.
This is the fifth year out of six that the council has reduced tax and Hammersmith and Fulham Council are cutting council tax faster than any other local authority.
The council says that the taxpayer is £243 better off than the average Londoner due to decreases over the last six years.
It has also agreed to freeze parking charges, keep all of the borough’s libraries open, and maintain weekly refuse collections.
Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh, H&F Council leader, said: “The council is doing its bit and we would like to thank the residents who have been doing their bit too.”
The news comes as Hammersmith and Fulham is reducing management and overhead costs by 50 per cent by combining some services with Westminster Council and Kensington and Chelsea Council.
This will save taxpayers £33million by 2015.
Paul Degnan, 35, who has lived in Parsons Green for six years, said:
“The reduction in council tax is certainly something to celebrate. It is definitely good news in this economic climate.
I went to a council run recycling meeting and got my free compost bin, and now they will recycle my garden waste and take it away for free. The council generally do good things.”
Yvonne Bailey, 64, said: “I’ve lived here for 25 years. It is a nice place to live and the borough is generally well kept and the streets are always tidy.”
