Local authorities freeze council tax - welcome news to anyone buying or selling a Chiswick home.
Hounslow and Ealing Council tax bills have been frozen with people paying the same for services as last year. The Councils' decision to deliver a zero per cent increase will help to protect Chiswick residents’ pockets during the recession.
London Mayor Boris Johnson has also done his bit and kept the Greater London Assembly levy the same so residents’ bills will not go up.
Over the last three years the councils claim to have reduced bureaucracy and improved efficiency whilst at the same time working to improve services.
Cllr Peter Thompson, leader of Hounslow Council: “For the third year running, residents will not face a rise in their council tax bill. I hope they will recognise that we are moving in the right direction, and delivering better value for money.”
Top marks
Also announced this week, both Hounslow and Ealing have been awarded the highest performance rating, in an independent assessment from the Audit Commission. The four star rating refers to the annual Comprehensive Performance Assessment.
The improved Hounslow rating is thanks to high performance for adult social care and improvements to leisure and environmental services. The Audit Commission also noted improvements in school results, the amount of social housing provided and rates of youth crime. The Commission found financial standing and value for money were also good.
Ealing Council Leader Jason Stacey: “The most important measure of our success is resident satisfaction with services, and the good news is real progress is being made. Some 78% of people say the Council is doing a good job, and 72% feel we are efficient and well run. The Government assessment is a tremendous endorsement of the progress that we’ve made.”
Given that Ealing was rated as ‘weak’ four years ago, this is a notable turn-around.
Hounslow received a further plaudit this week - Beacon status for its outstanding work in the area of cohesive and resilient communities. The Beacon awards recognise local government’s excellence and innovation in improving quality of life for their residents.
