With the local elections a distant memory, its back to tax and spend under this Labour council and the Labour Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. That means residents paying more of their hard-earned cash for whatever grandiose project the Labour front bench or Sadiq Khan’s failing PR team comes up with next.
After freezing council tax in an election year, H&F Labour are increasing council tax by the maximum amount – 4.99%. Meanwhile Sadiq Khan and his colleagues are raising the Greater London Assembly (GLA) precept by an astronomical 9.7%. This means that, since his mayoralty started, Sadiq Khan has raised his precept by 57.3%. It is truly shocking to see the Labour Party putting residents under such serious financial pressure during the recent increase in the cost of living.
While LBHF Labour blame the Conservative Government, other London councils focus on delivering value for money. Our Conservative neighbours in RBKC have frozen council tax and even provided an additional rebate of £100 to bands A to D properties. Barnet Council, a Labour administration now, have managed NOT to raise council tax by the full amount that we in H&F have to bear, but by 1.8%. Similarly, Westminster City Council, another new Labour council have frozen their council tax for 22/23. Both of these councils were previously Conservative and both their Conservative administrations had left the council books in good order, as the Conservatives did in Hammersmith and Fulham in 2014. Unfortunately, LBHF Labour’s assault on residents’ pockets doesn’t stop at council tax.
Council tenants are facing more hardship with rents going up twice this last year, for an increase of £5.525 million. Despite rent increases, the Housing Ombudsman released a damning report which found severe maladministration by LBHF. The damp and mould situation is chronic. The council is being chased by claims lawyers, employed by desperate and unwitting residents to gain compensation and posing a real threat to the HRA budget. The continued dreadful repairs services have resulted in less revenue for the council while residents live in the most horrific conditions. For both financial and health-based reasons, we are seriously concerned about our council tenants and leaseholders under this Labour administration.
LBHF Council is also slapping a blanket 10% increase on all charges like using a football pitch in Hurlingham Park, except for fees and services for which the council has no authority. Fees for marrying and dying for borough residents have gone up even more, by 16% for marrying on a Friday in Fulham Library and up 27% for scattering ashes. The Labour Council have shown zero compassion by forcing these blatant and unfair increases on LBHF residents.
With council tax, council rents and council charges all going up, you’d think LBHF Labour would deliver high quality services. Unfortunately, you’d be wrong. This Borough is failing so badly it’s hard to know where to start. Hammersmith Bridge is still closed. Our parks, pavements and roads look drab and unkempt compared to neighbouring RBKC. Just 6 Metropolitan police officers are permanently allocated to our Borough (it used to be 42 under the Conservative council). And construction has begun on only 6 affordable homes this year. What an appalling record.
Under LBHF Labour, you pay more for less. They keep raising taxes and the cost of living in Hammersmith & Fulham while delivering few improvements to the borough. Meanwhile, no fewer than 3 of the most senior cabinet members among others are actively trying to be selected for parliament showing that those at the top of the Labour administration are no longer committed to our borough. If they’ve stopped caring, the local Conservatives haven’t. We will continue to work hard to hold the failing Labour administration to account while actively preparing to take administration at the next set of council elections in 2026.
- Conservative Group Leader, Cllr Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler
