Council warns of massive tax rise

Hammersmith and Fulham council's cabinet said it may impose a 150 percent council tax rise on residents following government cuts under Labour's fair funding review introduced last year.

The cost to households

A budget report warned that a 150 percent rise would cost Band D households an additional twenty nine pounds eleven pence a week in twenty twenty seven slash twenty eight.

Government grant slashed in half

Government funding for Hammersmith and Fulham will be reduced to just seventy two point four million pounds over the next four years after receiving one hundred fifty point five million pounds in twenty twenty five slash twenty six.

Other councils face steeper rises

Wandsworth and Westminster, neighbouring boroughs, are warning they may have to increase council tax by 188 percent and 200 percent respectively to meet huge funding gaps.

Council opposes the government plan

Councillor Rowan Ree said the government is aiming to make councils with historically low council tax raise them to the national average. We do not support this.

“The government is aiming to make councils with historically low council tax raise them to the national average. We do not support this.”

Council seeks balanced budget options

Ree said the council is looking at all options to meet the legal requirement to present a balanced budget, expecting the funding reduction could be equivalent to losing as much as 40 percent of its total annual budget of 222 million pounds.