Hounslow Council Clarifies Position on Frontline Services Amid Maximum Tax Hike
A West London council has moved to clear up confusion surrounding its budget plans, confirming that frontline services will not face cuts despite a proposed maximum council tax increase. Hounslow Council has announced it will raise council tax by 4.99%, the highest amount legally permitted, while simultaneously investing £125 million in building new social homes for local residents.
Budget Confusion and Clarification
Recent discussions at council meetings had sparked uncertainty among residents and councillors regarding potential reductions to essential services. Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, Leader of Hounslow Council, has since clarified the situation, stating unequivocally that there are no planned cuts to frontline services. He addressed concerns that this assurance might be politically motivated in an election year, challenging the notion by questioning when the council last implemented service reductions.
The confusion appears to have stemmed from a committee meeting where Councillor Sampson initially indicated that housing services would be affected, but later corrected this, explaining she had misheard a question about staffing. The council emphasises that while staffing restructures are occurring within the Housing department, these changes do not translate into any diminution of frontline housing support for residents.
Defining and Protecting Frontline Services
Hounslow Council defines frontline services as those providing direct support to residents, including:
- Crisis intervention and safeguarding support
- Specialist domestic abuse advice
- In-person access through Community Hubs and Family Hubs
- Children's Services and Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs)
Under the new budget proposals, all these critical functions will continue, though the council acknowledges that the delivery methods for some services are evolving. The support mechanisms themselves, however, remain firmly in place.
Domestic Violence Support Restructuring
A particular area of discussion has been the future of domestic violence support services. Councillor Grewal, Cabinet Member for Residents Support, Communities and Equality, explained that temporary three-year funding for additional domestic violence work is concluding as planned. Rather than maintaining a weekly drop-in event in central Hounslow, trained staff will now be available across all 11 Community Hubs and three Family Hubs throughout the borough.
This redistribution aims to provide more accessible, localised support for individuals who may face restrictions on their movements due to coercive control. The council stresses that specialist expertise for high-risk domestic abuse cases remains a priority, with strengthened support for children and young people through new specialist posts in Children's Services.
Council Tax Increases and Financial Details
The proposed council tax rise represents the maximum allowable increase, with the following annual changes for different property bands:
- Band A: £1,457.04 (increase of £66.49)
- Band D: £2,185.56 (increase of £99.74)
- Band H: £4,371.12 (increase of £199.48)
These increases come alongside significant investment commitments, including more than £125 million from housing revenues to create additional homes, building upon the 1,529 homes constructed since 2017. A further £150 million is earmarked for improving existing housing estates by 2030.
Additional Investments and Budget Balancing
The council's budget also includes £4 million for maintaining and enhancing borough parks, alongside a £2 million 'pavement pledge' to renew 22 footways over the next nine months. Councillor Rajawat has described the budget as "a budget for the future," emphasising protection for vulnerable residents, expanded local services, and support for young people and communities.
Hounslow Council had faced a £54 million budget gap for 2026/27, which has been addressed through over £26 million in savings and approximately £21 million from the government's 'Fairer Funding Review'. Council officials noted that without this government funding, balancing the budget would have been more challenging and would have placed council reserves in a precarious position.
Political Responses and Future Outlook
The budget proposals have drawn criticism from opposition councillors. Councillor Peter Thompson, Leader of the Conservative group on Hounslow Council, argued that residents face council tax rises exceeding 15% over three years alongside service deterioration. He specifically highlighted concerns about housing service cuts and reductions to domestic violence support.
In response, Councillor Rajawat reaffirmed the council's commitment to protecting frontline services, acknowledging that this sometimes necessitates changes in service delivery methods. He emphasised that the new approach to domestic abuse support will actually provide victims with more accessible options across the borough.
The budget proposals now await full council approval, with residents watching closely as Hounslow navigates the challenging balance between necessary investment, tax increases, and maintaining essential community services.
