Havering logo www.havering.gov.uk 2024/25
Introduction from the Leader of Havering Council Cllr
Ray Morgon
Dear resident,
Every year we produce this booklet to explain exactly how your money is used by the Council, and to show you how much of a difference it makes to all Havering residents.
Our spending is focused on the services we have to provide by law and those that residents tell us are most important to them. This year, we once again have the challenge of presenting a balanced budget set against a backdrop of enormous financial pressures. In fact, it is the toughest budget we have ever faced, with the combination of years of underfunding from central government, dramatic increases in the costs to deliver key services and a rapid rise in demand for social services and housing creating an unprecedented financial crisis.
Due to the increase in older and younger people our spending pressures are rapidly going up. We have the second oldest population in London and the fourth fastest growing 0-14 young people population in the country. This means for every pound that we spend as a Council, 70p of it goes on statutory services for adults and children. Futhermore nearly 70% of our Core Spending Power is funded by Council Tax.
Although the Council has approved a balanced budget, it comes as the authority faces a £32.5 million budget gap, which rises to £82.2 million over the next four years. Therefore it has only been possible to deliver a balanced budget with additional borrowing from government with a £54 million loan (Capitalisation Direction) coupled with more difficult savings proposals. The savings will see the Council becoming more cost effective, changing how we fund and provide some services, increasing our income and reducing or stopping some services.
This year’s settlement from government is also disappointing and has once again left us with no choice but to put forward a 4.99% increase in Council Tax which will include 2.99% for the Council budget plus 2% social care precept.
When adding the London Mayor’s precept (his share of the bill) which has risen by 8.58%, the total increase for the average Band D property is £2.30 per week. We understand that this increase is unwelcome at a time when many are struggling with the general cost of living but as previously explained we have been left with little option.
However, while this budget focuses on savings and avoiding the Council having to issue a Section 114 Order, which in layperson’s terms means we are effectively bankrupt, it also listens and responds to the priorities residents tell us matter most.
This includes:
• £5.5million on maintaining and improving roads and pavements and street lighting
• continued funding for the S92 police officers to help keep the borough safe
• regular rubbish and recycling collections, and street cleaning as part of our new contract with Urbaser
• improving customer services and digital platforms for residents to access council services
• investing in new affordable homes for residents through our regeneration programme
• investing more in delivering vital social care services to adults and children
• Maintaining 16 green flag parks.
So, despite the extreme financial pressures we find ourselves under, with the help of a loan from government, this Council has produced a balanced budget that maintains front line services, improves safety, the environment, our infrastructure and provides more homes. We will also continue to pay for our contracted services and suppliers as normal. This will not change.
This is all while making even greater savings and looking to find more efficient ways to deliver our services to residents. Together, I hope we can continue to make the borough - the Havering you want to be part of.
You can keep up-to-date with the latest council news throughout the year by subscribing to our weekly Living in Havering email newsletter:
https://www.havering.gov.uk/newsletters
Councillor Ray Morgon, Leader of Havering Council
The Havering you want to be part of
2 Your Council Tax Your Services 2024-25 3
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The following outlines how the Council is set to spend money for the financial year April 2024 to March 2025.
Over the next year we will collect £201 million from our residents in Council Tax. From this, we will pay £43 million to the Greater London Authority to help fund the police, fire service and Transport for London.
The remaining £158 million is added to our grant from central Government, giving us £202 million to spend in Havering over the coming financial year. The average Band D Council Tax charge in Havering is £2,207.92 per year, of which £471.40 goes to the Greater London Authority and £1,736.52 comes to the Council to fund your services.
Adults Social Services
In the budget consultation you told us that looking after vulnerable residents in our community was important so we will be spending £10.82 per household, per week to fund social care services for the adults, as well as helping people to regain their independence, after an accident or stay in hospital.
£33.39 – Weekly spend per household (excluding GLA)
£0.33
Rubbish, Waste Collection & Street Cleaning
£1.50 per household, per week will be spent to collect rubbish and recycling from more than 100,000 households as well as keeping streets clean across the whole of Havering all year round.
Needs of Young People in Havering including Social Care
£10.64 per household, per week will support the needs of young people in Havering including Social Care. The day-to-day running costs for schools comes from a separate, dedicated Government grant for schools, not from the Council Tax.
Culture and Leisure
£0.67 per household, per week to run our parks, libraries, leisure centres, sports development, arts services and the Havering Music Service as well as a wide-ranging programme of activities for young people. This also includes a contribution towards The Queen’s Theatre, as well as preserving our heritage buildings.
Environmental Health, Licensing & Trading Standards
£0.33 per household per week will be spent to protect consumers (including enforcing fair trading, health and safety, food safety and private rented housing standards), improve air quality, tackle land contamination and noise issues, licensing and regulation advice.
Other services
£4.35 per household per week to run a range of other services including support services (e.g. finance, human resources, IT, insurance and legal services), registrars (births, deaths and marriages), community safety and road safety.
Levies
£3.13 per household per week is paid to a range of organisations that provide services including waste disposal to a number of boroughs including Havering. This is set out in more detail elsewhere in this leaflet. Pay
£0.67
£1.50
4 Your Council Tax Your Services 2024-25 5
your Council Tax
and you will receive a 1.5 per cent discount.
4 £10.82 per household per week for adults social services £4.35 per household per week for other services £3.13 per household per week for levies
in full before 1 April 2024
How the Council Tax is spent
per household per week for culture and leisure
per household per week for rubbish, waste collection & street cleaning
per household per week for needs of young people in Havering including Social Care
£10.64
per household per week for environmental health and trading standards
per household per week for housing Your Council Tax bill for 2024/25 will show an increase of 2.9% for London Borough of Havering. The actual increase is 2.99%. This percentage is shown to one decimal place in line with statutory requirements.
£1.95
Council Tax Information 2024-2025
C
D
E
F
G
Almost all domestic properties are subject to and pay Council Tax. Properties are allocated a band according to their market value in 1991.
The table above tells you the band a property will fall into and the Council Tax to be paid based on property values at 1 April 1991.
Visit www.havering.gov.uk/counciltax
To find out more about Council Tax Support visit www.havering.gov.uk/counciltaxsupport
Havering Council urges residents to be aware of Council Tax scams
Council Tax scams continue to do the rounds in Havering so extra vigilance is always required.
The scammer asks for a £65 ‘release fee’ in order to release the money that is owed which is usually a higher amount.
Residents should always double-check details if someone calls them out of the blue to offer a sum of money as it is likely to be a scam. The Council does not charge a release fee to reduce your Council Tax or to refund overpaid Council Tax to you.
Residents can get advice from the Citizens Advice consumer helpline by calling 03454 040506.
You can also contact the Council Tax Service for advice at www.havering.gov.uk/counciltaxenquiry
More information about Scams Awareness Month and scams in general is available at www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Scams should be reported to Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk
Pay promptly to get a lump sum discount
You could save up to £66.24 by paying all your Council Tax early. More than 3,500 Havering residents pay their Council Tax in full before 1 April each year and get 1.5 per cent off their Council Tax bill.
The Council Tax Lump Sum Discount table shows the amount you will save if you pay all of your Council Tax before 1 April 2024. You can make a payment at www.havering.gov.uk/counciltaxpayment
Appeals
Appeals to amend your property band can only be made if:
• the value has altered due to a physical change to the property
Council Tax Lump Sum Discount
• the property has started to be used or stopped being used for business purposes
• a house has been converted into flats or vice versa
• you have become the tax payer of the property within the past six months. If you wish to appeal or request a change to your valuation band and would like more information, please contact The Valuation Office Agency (free of charge) at: www.voa.gov.uk email ctsouth@voa.gsi.gov.uk or call 03000 501501
They are located at 1 Ruskin Square, Dingwall Road, Croydon CR10 2WF. This is a free service and while any appeal is in progress, you still need to pay your Council Tax as shown on your bill. If successful, your bill will be amended and you can request a refund of any overpayment.
Payment by Direct Debit
Direct Debit is an easy way to pay and you can choose an instalment date of either the first, fifteenth or twenty first of each month. Once set up, payments are made automatically so you don’t have to worry and we will give you notice of any changes to the payments you make.
It’s easy to start paying by Direct Debit, no need to fill out any forms, just set up a My Havering account by going to www.havering.gov.uk/myhavering You will then be able to set up your Direct Debit online and you can also report a change of address, apply for or cancel a single resident discount, request a copy bill and much more.
Alternatively you can set up payments by Direct Debit without registering for MyHavering account by visiting www.havering.gov.uk/ctaxdirectdebit
Council Tax payers finding it hard to Pay
Residents on a low income who are struggling to pay their Council Tax may be entitled to Council Tax Support.
You can make a claim at www.havering.gov.uk/counciltaxsupport
To help with the cost of living, visit www.havering.gov.uk/costofliving. There are lots of useful ideas for people of all income groups to help make your finances go further.
Other ways to pay your Council Tax
Visit www.havering.gov.uk/counciltax to pay by Debit Card.
For telephone payments call 0300 456 0630 (open 24 hours a day), internet banking or
8 Your Council Tax Your Services 2024-25 9
Band Value of property at 1 April 1991 Full Council Tax A Up to and including £40,000 £1,471.95 B £40,001 to £52,000 £1,717.27
£52,001 to £68,000 £1,962.59
£68,001 to £88,000 £2,207.92
£88,001 to £120,000 £2,698.57
£120,001 to £160,000 £3,189.22
£160,001 to £320,000 £3,679.87
Band Full Council Tax 1.5% Discount Balance to pay Council Tax less single person discount 1.5% Discount Balance to pay A £1,471.95 £22.08 £1,449.87 £1,103.96 £16.56 £1,087.40 B £1,717.27 £25.76 £1,691.51 £1,287.95 £19.32 £1,268.63 C £1,962.59 £29.44 £1,933.15 £1,471.94 £22.08 £1,449.86 D £2,207.92 £33.12 £2,174.80 £1,655.94 £24.84 £1,631.10 E £2,698.57 £40.48 £2,658.09 £2,023.93 £30.36 £1,993.57 F £3,189.22 £47.84 £3,141.38 £2,391.92 £35.88 £2,356.04 G £3,679.87 £55.20 £3,624.67 £2,759.90 £41.40 £2,718.50 H £4,415.84 £66.24 £4,349.60 £3,311.88 £49.68 £3,262.20
H More than £320,000 £4,415.84
bank transfer visit www.havering.gov.uk/counciltax, you will need the following:
- Payee Name: London Borough of Havering
- Sort Code: 62-00-44 and Account Number: 14871734.
- Your Council Tax account number
Your Council Tax instalments are due on the first of every month, unless you pay by Direct Debit. You must ensure your payments reach us by the due dates and we may help remind you by sending an SMS message. We will only send you one reminder letter for late payment and legal action will be taken against those who do not pay or continually pay late which will involve costs.
How is Council Tax spent?
Havering Council uses Council Tax money to fund local services you use such as Planning & Economic Development, Highways & Car Parking, Education, Refuse Collection & Waste Disposal, Environmental Health, Housing (General Fund only), Leisure & Recreation, Social Services and other services.
Some of the money is used regionally for funding the police, the fire brigade and Transport for London.
We also contribute to the following levy bodies: East London Waste Authority, the Environment Agency (Thames and Anglian Eastern Region), Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, and the London Pensions Fund Authority; For more information on levying bodies, see pages 14 – 21.
For a full breakdown of how we spend Council Tax go to www.havering.gov.uk/counciltax
Help for people in financial difficulty
If you are having problems paying your Council Tax please contact us straightaway to avoid costs being added. Council Tax is usually paid over 10 monthly instalments from April to January but you can request to pay over 12 months from April to March. This will reduce the amount of your monthly payments but it means that you will not have a break before the start of the following financial year. Please note that instalments will still be due on the first of the month unless you are paying by Direct Debit. You can apply online by completing the Payment Arrangement request form www.havering.gov.uk/ctarrange
Help for people with disabilities
If you, or anyone who lives with you, is disabled and needs a specially adapted room (not a bathroom, kitchen or lavatory), an extra bathroom or kitchen, or a wheelchair is used in the home by the disabled person then you may be entitled to a reduction in your Council Tax.
If any special features have been added to your home for a disabled resident which increases the property’s value, the valuation band should not reflect that increase. If you think you meet the criteria for a reduction you can apply online at www.havering.gov.uk/ctdr
If you feel that the band on your bill is incorrect, please contact the Valuation Office Agency at www.voa.gov.uk or call 03000 501501
Discounts and exemptions
Discounts
The full Council Tax bill assumes that at least two adults are living in a property. If there is only one adult residing in the home, the bill is reduced by 25 per cent. Some people are not included when counting the number of adult residents. These include people who are under 18, full-time students, student nurses, apprentices, youth training trainees, nonBritish spouses/ dependents of students (who are not allowed to work or claim benefit), those for whom child benefit is paid, school leavers, certain care workers who live in the property, severely mentally impaired, long-term hospital patients, nursing home patients, members (and dependents) of visiting armed forces, members (and dependents) of international headquarters or defence organisations, members of religious communities, care workers, people caring for someone with a disability who is in receipt of certain benefits but is not their partner or under 18, prisoners, residents of hostels for the homeless and foreign diplomats.
Please note that this is only a summary of the discounts that are available; for full details or to apply, please go to www.havering.gov.uk/counciltax
Any existing discount entitlement is shown on your bill but you must tell the Council within 21 days about any changes of circumstances that may affect it or you may be subject to a fine.
Note: We will monitor discounts and exemptions and conduct reviews to make sure the reduction still applies. This may involve external organizations.
Annexes
An annexe is a building, or part of a building, which has been constructed or adapted for use as separate living accommodation.
An annexe can qualify for a 50 per cent Council Tax discount where: it is being used by the resident of the other part of the property as part of their sole or main residence and is otherwise unoccupied, or it is occupied by a relative of the person liable to pay Council Tax in the other part of the property.
Annexes will continue to be exempt where they are empty but cannot be let separately from the rest of the property or where they are occupied by elderly or disabled relatives (see Exempt Properties below).
For further details or to apply, please go to www.havering.gov.uk/counciltax
Empty Properties Surcharge
From 1 April 2019, properties will be charged 200 per cent of the Council Tax where they have been unoccupied and unfurnished for more than two years. From 1 April 2024, properties will be charged 300 per cent of the Council Tax where they have been unoccupied and unfurnished for more than five years but less than ten years. Properties will be charged 400 per cent of the Council Tax where they have been unoccupied and unfurnished for more than ten years. This is unless:
• The owner who would occupy the property is living in armed forces accommodation that is job-related or
• The property is an annexe used by the resident of the main property.
10 Your Council Tax Your Services 2024-25 11
Since April 2013, there have been no reductions for empty properties unless specific criteria are satisfied (see Exempt Properties below).
Exempt properties
Some properties are exempt from Council Tax. These include properties that are unoccupied and:
• owned and last used by a registered charity and last lived in less than six months ago
• were lived in by people now in prison or otherwise legally detained
• were lived in by people now permanently in a hospital or care home
• have remained unoccupied since the death of the sole owner (the exemption does not apply where there is another existing occupier) and less than 6 months have passed since the grant of probate or letters of administration
• the law prevents anyone living there
• held vacant for a Minister of Religion
• were lived in by people now receiving personal care in a place other than a hospital or care home
• were lived in by people now living elsewhere to provide personal care
• were lived in by students who also own the property
• have been repossessed
• have been left by someone who has become bankrupt
• are vacant caravan pitches or boat moorings
• are annexes that cannot be let separately from the main house.
Also exempt are occupied properties that are:
• student halls of residence
• only lived in by students
• Ministry of Defence barracks and married quarters
• visiting forces accommodation
• only lived in by people under the age of 18
• lived in only by people who are severely mentally impaired and they are liable to pay the Council Tax
• lived in by foreign diplomats
• annexes occupied only by elderly or disabled relatives of those living in the rest of the property
For full details or to apply please visit www.havering.gov.uk/counciltax
If your property is no longer exempt, you must tell us within 21 days of the change or you may incur a fine.
If you think you should not pay Council Tax because:
• your property should be exempt
• you are not the resident or the owner
• you should receive a discount
• a mistake has been made in your bill
You can contact us by completing our online council tax general enquiry form which can be found at www.havering.gov.uk/counciltaxenquiry
If you disagree with our decision you can appeal to the Council. If, after receiving the Council’s decision, you remain dissatisfied, you have a further right of appeal to the Valuation Tribunal
Second Floor
120 Leman Street, London E1 8EU
www.valuationtribunal.gov.uk/
Any appeal must be made in writing within two months of the Council’s decision.
Fraud prevention
The Council has a duty to protect the public funds it administers and may use information that you have provided for the prevention and detection of fraud. It may also share this information with other organisations responsible for auditing or administering public funds for these purposes. For further information see
www.havering.gov.uk/fairprocessing
Benefits advice
We want to ensure that residents get all the benefits they are entitled to. Go to www. havering.gov.uk/benefits and complete the online benefits application form. Housing Benefit and Universal Credit can help you pay your rent, and Council Tax Support could help pay some of your Council Tax bill.
The amount you could receive depends on your income, circumstances and how much Council Tax you pay.
Second adult rebate
for pension age residents only
You may be entitled to a second adult rebate if you are of pension age and
• you do not have a partner or your partner is not counted for Council Tax purposes (see Discounts on page 11)
• you do not qualify for Council Tax Support or your support is less than 25 per cent of your Council Tax bill
• you have other adults who are on a low income living in your property
To find out more and see if you are eligible, visit www.havering.gov.uk/benefits
12 Your Council Tax Your Services 2024-25 13
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Council worker clearing up leaves Harrow Lodge Leisure Centre
How the Council Tax is made up
Details of the 2024 – 2025 budget
The Council Tax for band D properties has been set at £2,207.92
The make up of this change is shown below.
(The table shows what we will spend the money on with a comparison to figures for 2023-2024).
Why did our spending change?
Following consultation with the residents of the borough, Havering’s spending will total £201.9m.
How your money is spent
The table below shows how we planned to spend your money in 2023/24, how we plan to spend it in 2024/25 and how much the resulting Council Tax is.
How
your money is spent (£m)
Planning & Economic Development
Roads, Pavements & Car Parking
Needs of young
Carer and young child in playgroup
View over Havering countryside
2023/2024 Budget £182.0m
Precepts
London Borough of Havering
Havering street cleaning machine
14 Your Council Tax Your Services 2024-25 15
14
Change In Council’s Budget £m £m 2024/2025 Budget 201.9 2023/2024 Budget 182.0 Net Total 19.9 Reasons for change Budget Pressures 59.0 Inflation 8.1 Increase in Levies 0.4 Provisions & Other Issues (including Grant Changes) (32.2) Sub Total 35.3 Efficiencies/Savings (15.4) Net Total 19.9
London Authority TOTAL
Adult Social Care London Borough of Havering Total Greater
people in Havering inc Social Care Rubbish, Waste Collection & Street Cleaning Environmental Health & Trading Standards Housing (General Fund Only) Culture and Leisure Adult Social Services Public Health Other Services Total - All Services Contingency and Provisions HAVERING’S NET EXPENDITURE Add Levies Unringfenced Grants TOTAL EXPENDITURE External Finance Collection Fund (Surplus)/Deficit HAVERING’S PRECEPT ON THE COLLECTION FUND 2023/24 (1.89) (1.87) 60.92 7.71 2.45 4.53 4.35 80.08 (1.53) 46.22 200.96 1.00 201.96 18.54 (38.49) 182.01 (34.10) 1.17 149.07 2024/25 (0.28) (1.73) 73.71 9.04 1.97 11.77 4.03 87.60 (2.15) 38.03 221.98 1.00 222.98 18.91 (40.02) 201.86 (39.50) (4.34) 158.02 THE COLLECTION FUND 129.04 20.03 149.07 39.13 188.20 2023/24 2024/25 134.79 23.23 158.02 42.90 200.92
Levying bodies
The Council Tax you pay includes money that the Council has to collect for other organisations that provide services London- wide. The organisations that make a levy on the Council are shown in this section.
East London Waste Authority (ELWA)
ELWA has the statutory responsibility for the disposal of household and commercial waste collected by the London Boroughs of Barking & Dagenham, Havering, Newham and Redbridge, and for the provision of Reuse and Recycling Centres in its area. Waste disposal is carried out under a 25-year Integrated Waste Management Services Contract by Renewi plc. ELWA receives funding support via the government’s Private Finance Initiative.
Budget 2024/2025
ELWA’s total levy requirement is £75,740,000 (2023/24: £72,846,000). The 2024/25 budget includes an inflationary increase in contract costs. This is offset by a decrease in the total waste tonnage and an increase in capital financing costs (both relative to the 2023/24 budget) and the forecast 2023/24 budget surplus. Further information can be found at https://eastlondonwaste.gov.uk/. The increase for the London Borough of Havering is 2.0%. The major part of the ELWA Levy is apportioned on the basis of relative amounts of household waste delivered to ELWA by each of the four constituent London Boroughs, with the remainder apportioned according to their Council Tax Bases.
The Levy on the London Borough of Havering for 2024/25 is £18,418,000 (2023/24: £18,056,000).
Lee Valley Regional Park Authority Budget Levy Changes 2023/2024 to 2024/2025
The Environment Agency
The Environment Agency is a levying body for its Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Functions under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 and the Environment Agency (Levies) (England and Wales) Regulations 2011.
The Environment Agency (Anglian Eastern Region)
The Anglian Eastern Region of the Environment Agency has powers in respect of flood and coastal erosion risk management for 2,993 kilometres of main river and along tidal and sea defences in the area of Anglian Eastern Regional Flood and Coastal Committee. Money is spent on the construction of new flood defence schemes, the maintenance of the river system and existing flood defences together with the operation of a flood warning system and management of the risk of coastal erosion.
The financial details are:
Anglian Eastern Regional Flood and Coastal Committee 2023/2024 ‘000s
The total Local Levy raised has increased from £3,553,496 in 2023/2024 to £3,624,566 for 2024/2025.
The
Environment Agency (Thames Region)
The Thames Region of the Environment Agency has powers in respect of flood and coastal erosion risk management for 5,200 kilometres of main river and along tidal and sea defences in the area of Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee. Money is spent on the construction of new flood defence schemes, the maintenance of the river system and existing flood defences together with the operation of a flood warning system and management of the risk of coastal erosion.
The financial details are:
Thames Regional Flood Defence Committee
2023/2024 ‘000s 2024/2025 ‘000s
Lee Valley Regional Park is a unique leisure, sports and environmental destination for all residents of London, Essex and Hertfordshire. The 26 mile long, 10,000 acre Park, much of it formerly derelict land, is partly funded by a levy on the council tax. This year there has been a 3% increase in this levy. Find out more about hundreds of great days out, world class sports venues and award winning parklands at www.visitleevalley.org.uk
Havering’s share of the levy is calculated in proportion to the Council Tax Base and is £235,109 for 2024/25 (2023/24: £228,973).
Further details on how this budget is spent and the amount each council contributes can be found at www.leevalleypark.org.uk
The total Local Levy raised has increased from £12,526,341 in 2023/2024 to £12,775,615 for 2024/2025
The majority of funding for flood defence comes directly from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
However, under the new Partnership Funding rule not all schemes will attract full central funding. To provide local funding for local priorities and contributions
16 Your Council Tax Your Services 2024-25 17
2023/2024 £m 2024/2025 £m Authority Operating Expenditure 15.5 15.3 Authority Operating Income (7.3) (7.8) Net Service Operating Costs 8.2 7.5 Financing Costs Dept servicing/repayments 2.0 2.2 Capital investment 0.9 1.3 Total Net Expenditure 11.1 11.0 Net use of Reserves (0.5) (0.0) Total Levy (10.6) (11.0)
‘000s Gross Expenditure £84,058
Base
2024/2025
£116,617 Levies Raised £3,553 £3,625 Total Council Tax
988 995
Total Council Tax Base
Gross Expenditure £140,213 £157,319 Levies Raised £12,526 £12,776
5,297 5,365
for partnership funding the Regional Flood and Coastal Committee recommend through the Environmental Agency a local levy.
A change in the gross budgeted expenditure between years reflects the programme of works for both capital and revenue needed by the Regional Flood and Coastal Committee to which you contribute. The total Local Levy raised by this committee has increased by 1.99 percent for the Thames Region and 2.0 per cent for the Anglian Eastern Region.
The London Pensions Fund Authority (LPFA)
The London Pensions Fund Authority (LPFA) raises a levy each year to meet expenditure on premature retirement compensation and outstanding personnel matters for which LPFA is responsible and cannot charge to the pension fund. These payments relate to former employees of the Greater London Council (GLC), the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) and the London Residuary Body (LRB).
For 2024/25, the income to be raised by levies is set out below. The Greater London levy is payable in all boroughs, the Inner London levy only in Inner London Boroughs (including the City of London). The figures show the total to be raised.
Greater London Authority Introduction
The Mayor of London’s budget for the 2024-25 financial year sets out his priorities, including supporting Londoners through the current cost-of-living crisis. The budget also supports job creation and London’s business community, our city’s future growth and economic success and the Mayor’s work to continue building a safer, fairer and greener London for everyone.
This year’s budget will provide resources to improve the key public services Londoners need and help address the cost-of-living crisis. This includes extending the Mayor’s universal free school meals programme for all state primary school children for a further academic year until at least July 2025, freezing TfL pay as you go and other non-government regulated fares for the next twelve months and delivering more genuinely affordable homes. The budget also provides resources to support jobs and growth, fund skills and retraining programmes, help rough sleepers off the streets, invest in services for children and young people and make London a fairer and greener place to live. Moreover, it prioritises resources for the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and London Fire Brigade (LFB) to keep Londoners safe, including violence reduction initiatives, support for victims of crime, funding to maintain frontline officer numbers, continued reform of the MPS and the delivery of projects to divert vulnerable young people away from gangs and violence.
In light of the conditions imposed as a result of government funding deals, it has been necessary to provide additional resources through local taxation income, including council tax, to maintain London’s transport system and preserve and expand the bus network.
Council tax for GLA Services
The Greater London Authority’s (GLA) share of the council tax for a typical Band D property has been increased by £37.26 (or 72p per week) to £471.40. The additional income from this increase in council tax will fund the MPS and the LFB, and will also go towards ensuring existing public transport services in London can be maintained, meeting requirements set by the government in funding agreements. Council taxpayers in the City of London, which has its own police force, will pay £166.27.
From 2022 onwards, a portion of the amount previously raised as levies is being paid into the LPFA Pension Fund to address a funding deficit in respect of former GLC, ILEA and LRB employees.
This budget will enable the Mayor to fulfil his key priorities for London. These include:
• Freezing TfL fares (excluding central government regulated fares such as travelcards) in 2024 with off-peak fares being introduced on Fridays all day for an initial three month trial period between March and May 2024
• Working with London boroughs to maintain existing concessionary travel and assisted door to door transport schemes. This includes, for example, maintaining free bus and tram travel for under 18s as well as free off-peak travel across the network for older Londoners (supplemented by free travel before 9am on Fridays for those aged 60+ for an initial three
18 Your Council Tax Your Services 2024-25 19 London Borough of Havering 2023/2024 2024/2025 Anglian Eastern Region £22,837 £23,252 Thames Region £198,129 £201,513
Inner London £7,000,000 Greater London £1,000,000 Total £8,000,000 London Borough of Havering 2023/2024 2024/2025 London Pensions Fund Authority £28,863 £28,733
in frontline services Band D Council Tax (£) 2023-24 Change 2024-25 MOPAC (Metropolitan Police) 292.13 13.00 305.13 LFC (London Fire Brigade) 62.48 4.26 66.74 GLA 22.44 0.00 22.44 Transport Services 57.09 20.00 77.09 Total 434.14 37.26 471.40
Investing
month trial period from March to May 2024), the disabled, armed forces personnel in uniform and eligible armed services veterans and protecting the Taxicard and Dial-a-Ride schemes.
• Providing £140 million to continue to fund universal free school meals for London’s estimated 287,000 state primary school children for a second academic year until at least July 2025. This will save families up to £1,000 over two years per child as the cost-of-living crisis continues to hit
• Ensuring the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has the resources it needs to tackle violent crime by investing an additional £151 million in 2024-25 in policing and crime prevention. This includes investing an extra £6.5 million in London’s Violence Reduction Unit to divert young people away from gangs and crime. More generally an additional £189 million is being invested to deliver reform of the MPS, including through the New Met for London programme to increase trust and confidence amongst Londoners in their police service
• Funding 1,300 additional police officer posts and 500 extra Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) from locally raised council tax and business rates revenues. This budget will see MPS receiving a record £1.143 billion in funding from the GLA
• Tackling the underlying causes of crime through the rollout of funding to support disadvantaged young Londoners to access positive opportunities and constructive activities that allow them to make the most of their potential, as well as resources for new violence reduction initiatives
• Protecting vulnerable children and women at risk of abuse and domestic violence
• Providing resources to rollout a transformation programme so that the London Fire Brigade (LFB) can implement the recommendations of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and other key improvements. The London Fire Commissioner, with the full support of the Mayor, is also committed to continuing to implement the deep-rooted reform needed to the culture and systems within the LFB
• Continuing the Hopper bus fare, which makes transport more affordable for millions of Londoners
• Delivering the Elizabeth line on its full timetable and route. The Elizabeth line has increased central London’s rail capacity by ten per cent and is forecast to see upwards of 200 million passenger journeys per annum making it the busiest rail line in the UK. This follows on from the opening of Northern line extension to Nine Elms and Battersea Power Station in September 2021
• Continuing to tackle London’s housing crisis, by investing £6.4 billion over the next five years to increase the number of Londoners who have a safe, decent and affordable home as well as allocating resources to tackle homelessness and reduce rough sleeping
• Tackling the climate emergency following the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) London-wide to tackle air pollution, which has been supported by a £210 million vehicle scrappage scheme for small businesses and Londoners to help them switch to cleaner vehicles or retrofit their existing ones
• Investing in projects to enable more walking and cycling across London and
• Funding projects to bring Londoners together, promote arts, sports and culture, help tackle inequality and improve the environment.
the GLA Group budget
The following tables compare the GLA Group’s planned spending for 2024-25 with last year and sets out why it has changed.
The GLA’s planned gross expenditure is higher this year. This reflects the additional resources the Mayor is investing in policing, the fire brigade and transport services. Overall, the council tax requirement has increased because of the extra resources for the MPS and the LFB and to secure funding to maintain existing transport services including buses and the tube network. There has been a 1.4 per cent increase in London’s residential property taxbase. Find out more about our budget at: www.london.gov.uk/budget
20 Your Council Tax Your Services 2024-25 21
Summary of
How the GLA’s budget is funded (£ million) 2024-25 Gross expenditure 17,480.4 Government grants and retained business rates -7,433.2 Fares, charges and other income -8,130.3 Change in reserves -426.6 Amount met by council taxpayers (£m) 1,490.3 Changes in spending (£ million) 2024-25 2023-24 council tax requirement 1,353.1 Net change in service expenditure and income 485.3 Change in use of reserves 43.7 Government grants and retained business rates -272.3 Other changes -119.5 Amount met by council taxpayers (£m) 1,490.3
Benefits – information www.havering.gov.uk/benefits
Business Rates – information www.havering.gov.uk/businessrates
Cemeteries & Crematorium www.havering.gov.uk/cemeteries
Council Tax – information www.havering.gov.uk/counciltax
Registrations www.havering.gov.uk/registration
StreetCare (rubbish, recycling, roads, highways) www.havering.gov.uk/streetcare EDUCATION
www.havering.gov.uk/educationandlearning
Education Psychology Service www.havering.gov.uk/educationpsychology
Attendance, behaviour and traveller support service
tel 01708 431777
Elective Home Education www.havering.gov.uk/homeschool
Excluded Pupils www.havering.gov.uk/excludedpupils
Bridge school
tel 01708 764370
Electoral Registration www.havering.gov.uk/elections
Environmental health & licensing www.havering.gov.uk/environmentalhealth
Family Information Service
(nurseries, out of school clubs, parent and toddler groups, pre-schools) www.havering.gov.uk/fis
HOUSING
www.havering.gov.uk/housing
Council tenants www.havering.gov.uk/counciltenants
Council leaseholders www.havering.gov.uk/councilleaseholders
Housing Solution Team www.havering.gov.uk/homeless
Housing Choice Application www.havering.gov.uk/askhousing
LIBRARIES
(accounts, opening times, renewals, reservations) www.havering.gov.uk/libraries
Romford Library www.havering.gov.uk/romfordlibrary
Hornchurch Library www.havering.gov.uk/hornchurchlibrary
24 hour renewal line, tel 0333 3704700
PARKING
www.havering.gov.uk/parking
Parking permits www.havering.gov.uk/parkingpermits
Parking Penalties www.havering.gov.uk/parking
Parking Payments www.havering.gov.uk/payments
tel 0300 456 0630 (24 hour)
Blue badges
www.havering.gov.uk/bluebadge
PAYMENTS
(Council Tax, Business Rates, Housing Rents, Garages, Service Charges)
www.havering.gov.uk/payments
Payment line (24 hour) tel 0300 456 0630
Payment line (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) tel 01708 433178
PLANNING
www.havering.gov.uk/planning
Building control www.havering.gov.uk/buildingcontrol
Planning permission & general advice www.havering.gov.uk/planning
Planning appeals www.havering.gov.uk/Planningappeals
Planning enforcement www.havering.gov.uk/planningenforcement
Building control advice/ inspection requests www.havering.gov.uk/buildingcontrol
SCHOOLS
www.havering.gov.uk/schools
Schools Admissions www.havering.gov.uk/admissions
Schools Appeals www.havering.gov.uk/appeals
School Dinners (Catering Services) www.havering.gov.uk/schoolcatering
Free School Meals www.havering.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals
School Transport & Home to School Transport (SEN) www.havering.gov.uk/schooltransport
Special Needs
www.havering.gov.uk/sen
SOCIAL SERVICES
Adults www.havering.gov.uk/adults
Children and families www.havering.gov.uk/children
TRADING STANDARDS
www.havering.gov.uk/tradingstandards
Consumer advice from Consumer Direct www.havering.gov.uk/consumeradvice
22 Your Council Tax Your Services 2024-25 23
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Havering Council key contacts
24 6965 www.havering.gov.uk
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