Ealing Council Tax Bills Frozen

No increase for second year

Council tax bills are being frozen this April following the decision by Ealing Council to deliver a zero per cent increase for the second year running.

A £70million plus programme of investment focusing on delivering more primary school places, regenerating public areas and fighting crime was also agreed at the meeting.

The programme includes:
• £31.8million to create additional primary school places, plus an extra £3.4million for general school improvements
• £12million for the Acton Town Hall regeneration project to create new community and leisure facilities, including library and swimming pool
• £6.5million to improve scores more roads and pavements as part of the ongoing road resurfacing programme
• £5million towards the restoration and improvement of Gunnersbury Park and its historic buildings
• £4.2million for housing improvement grants to help vulnerable residents to live in a safe and secure environment
• £2.3million to improve parks and open spaces
• £1.5million to restore and refurbish both Greenford Hall and Southall Manor House
• £1.5million to boost some of the borough’s smaller shopping areas
• £1million for alleygating and CCTV crime-fighting initiatives.

Council Leader, Councillor Jason Stacey, said: “I’m delighted that in these tough economic times we’ve been able to freeze council tax for the second year running, while still investing in major improvements. We’ve saved millions of pounds by making our services run more efficiently and the approach is making a huge difference to Ealing residents.”

Last year the borough gave £50 cash back to council tax paying households and the borough was given the maximum score for ‘financial planning and financial health’ by government inspectors.

March 10th, 2010