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. 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. Furthermore, 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 budget gap of over £70 million, which rises to £182 million over the next four years. Therefore, once again it has only been possible to deliver a balanced budget with additional borrowing from government.
Last year we had to agree a Government loan (Capitalisation Direction) of £32.5 million. This year, to ensure we once again have a balanced budget, we have had no choice but to apply for another Government loan. They have now approved a loan of £88
million. This is to help us cover the worst-case scenario including spiralling costs for social care and homelessness in the borough. We really hope we don’t have to draw down the full amount and we will be doing all we can to squeeze further efficiencies and savings out. But ultimately the Government needs to find a longterm solution to how we are funded as the number of councils in a similar situation is rising.
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 4%, the total increase for the average Band D property is £2.03 per week. We understand that this increase is unwelcome at a time when many continue to struggle with the general cost of living but as previously explained we have been left with little option.
However, while this budget focuses on further 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.
In addition, the Council will continue to invest in safety with a new CCTV system coming online and another year of funding for the section 92 police officers.
Parks will continue to be maintained and the Council will carry on building homes for Havering residents through a number of different regeneration schemes.
Weekly rubbish and recycling collections will stay the same, and streets will be kept clean as part of our new contract with FCC.
The Council will also continue to invest in our roads, support local businesses through a new campaign, and ensure help remains for our most vulnerable through the cost of living challenge.
So, despite the extreme financial pressures we find ourselves under, with the help of another 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
How the Council Tax is spent
The following outlines how the Council is set to spend money for the financial year April 2025 to March 2026.
Over the next year we will collect £209m million from the residents in Council Tax. From this, we will pay £44 million to the Greater London Authority to help fund the police, fire service and Transport for London.
The remaining £165 million is added to our grant from central Government, giving us £275 million to spend in Havering over the coming financial year. The average Band Council Tax charge in Havering is £2,313.55 per year, of which £490.38 goes to the Greater London Authority and £1,823.17 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 £13.00 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.
£35.07 weekly spend per household (excluding GLA)
Rubbish, Waste Collection & Street Cleaning
£2.48 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
£10.87 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
£0.10 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.
£0.61 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.
Homelessness
£1.79 per household, per week will be spent on preventing homelessness and supporting people and families who find themselves homeless.
Other services
£3.82 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
£2.40 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.
Your Council Tax bill for 2025/26 will show an increase of 5% for London Borough of Havering. The actual increase is 4.99%.
This percentage has been rounded as legally, the bill can only show the percentage to one decimal place.
Information about Council Services
Many services are now online including:
Council information
The Council produces email bulletins on different topics with subscribers receiving information from these bulletins each month.
Sign up at www.havering.gov.uk/Havering-Updates
Social care
Information and advice on social care services for people of all ages can be found on www.havering.gov.uk/socialcare
Reduce, reuse, recycle
In Havering we produce more than 95,000 tonnes of waste each year. Information about reducing, reusing and recycling is at www.havering.gov.uk/recycling
Libraries
You can renew or reserve a library book online. Online courses, ebooks, audio books and lots more are all available at www.havering.gov.uk/libraries
You can also download our libraries app for smartphones. https://www.havering.gov.uk/libraries
Parks and open spaces
Havering has over 108 parks and open spaces, 13 with greenflag status. Information about our parks and what they offer is at www.havering.gov.uk/parks
Business
Information, advice and support for businesses is in one place on the Council website at www.havering.gov.uk/business
Housing
Information and advice on Council housing, housing support, and private rented options is at www.havering.gov.uk/housing
Marriages & ceremonies
Information about the Georgian Grade II listed wedding venue, Langtons House and details about getting married or holding a ceremony in Havering is at www.havering.gov.uk/langtons
Birth and death registrations
Everything you need to know about registering births and deaths is at www.havering.gov.uk/registrations
This leaflet, including detailed financial information, is available at www.havering.gov.uk/counciltax
Council Tax: Do more online
All of the following Council Tax services are now available when you set up your My Havering account
Change of address/moving home
You can tell us about your move without a My Havering account at: www.havering.gov.uk/counciltax
Copy bill request
To request a copy bill, visit www.havering.gov.uk/copybill
ebilling request
Over 27,000 residents in Havering receive their Council Tax bill by e-billing. Help the environment and receive your bills online when you sign up for My Havering Account.
Payment arrangement request
To make an arrangement for the current year
Single person discount request
To request or cancel a 25 per cent single person discount
You can also access the following services on the Council’s website: Student discount request www.havering.gov.uk/studentdiscount
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support
Reporting a change of circumstances: www.havering.gov.uk/hbchange
General enquiries
Use this form for any Council Tax enquiries not listed above: www.havering.gov.uk/counciltaxenquiry
Council Tax Support
If you cannot afford to pay Council Tax because your income is low, you can apply for help at www.havering.gov.uk/counciltaxsupport
Council Tax Information 2025-2026
Band Value of property at 1 April 1991 Full Council Tax
A Up to and including £40,000
B
C
D
E
£40,001 to £52,000
£52,001 to £68,000
£68,001 to £88,000
£88,001 to £120,000
F £120,001 to £160,000
G £160,001 to £320,000
H More than £320,000
£1,542.43
£1,799.44
£2,056.48
£2,313.55
£2,827.67
£3,341.80
£3,855.92
£4,627.10
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 £69.41 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 2025. 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
internet
or
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.
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
Further, from 1 April 2025, the 100% second homes empty premium will be charged for properties unoccupied for more than two years even if furnished. This starts immediately, so properties empty for 1 year before 1 April 2025 will incur the premium.
In addition, from 1 April 2025, all long term empty properties will be charged a 100% premium.
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
Council worker clearing up leaves
How the Council Tax is made up
Details of the 2025 – 2026 budget
The Council Tax for band D properties has been set at £2,313.55.
Harrow Lodge
Leisure Centre
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 2024-2025)
Why did our spending change?
Following consultation with the residents of the borough, Havering’s spending will total £274.6m.
How your money is spent
The table below shows how we planned to spend your money in 2024/25, how we plan to spend it in 2025/26 and how much the resulting Council Tax is.
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 Biffa (formerly Renewi plc). ELWA receives funding support via the government’s Private Finance Initiative.
Budget 2025/2026
ELWA’s total levy requirement is £76,844,000 (2024/25: £75,740,000). The 2025/26 budget includes an inflationary increase in contract and operational costs as well as provision for increases in waste tonnages. This is offset by use of the packaging extended producer responsibility funding and release of prior years’ budget surplus. Further information can be found at https://eastlondonwaste.gov.uk/. The decrease for the London Borough of Havering is 0.72%. 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 2025/26 is £18,286,000 (2024/25: £18,418,000).
Lee Valley Regional Park (LVRPA)
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 2.7% 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 £235,027 for 2025/26 (2024/25: £235,109).
Further details on how this budget is spent and the amount each council contributes can be found at www.leevalleypark.org.uk
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
The total Local Levy raised has increased from £3,624,566 in 2024/2025 to £3,660,811 for 2025/2026.
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
The total Local Levy raised has increased from £12,775,615 in 2024/2025 to £13,029,850 for 2025/2026
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
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 1.0 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 2025/26, 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.
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.
As part of the 31 March 2025 triennial valuation, the Levy requirements will be reviewed and communicated to all the London Boroughs as part of the 2026/27 levy setting process.
Greater London Authority
Introduction
The Mayor of London’s budget for 2025-26 sets out how he will fund his plans to continue building a fairer, safer, and greener London for everyone and provides resources to improve key public services in the capital. The budget ensures investment to tackle crime, build more affordable homes, reduce street homelessness, improve our transport network, and ensure London remains a world-leader in tackling air pollution and the climate crisis.
The budget prioritises resources for the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and London Fire Brigade (LFB) to keep Londoners safe. This includes resources for violence reduction initiatives, support for victims of crime, additional funding for frontline police officers, continued reform of the MPS and the delivery of projects to divert vulnerable young people away from gangs and violence. It also confirms funding to continue Universal Free School Meals in London’s state primary schools for a further academic year until July 2026.
Council tax for GLA Services
The GLA’s share of the council tax for a typical Band D property has been increased by £18.98 (or 37p per week) to £490.38. The additional income from this increase in council tax will fund the MPS and the LFB. Council taxpayers in the City of London, which has its own police force, will pay £171.25.
Investing in frontline services
This budget will enable the Mayor to continue fulfilling his key priorities for London. This includes:
• 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, the disabled, armed forces personnel in uniform and eligible armed services veterans and protecting the Taxi card and Dial-a-Ride schemes
• Providing £147.5 million to continue to fund universal free school meals for London’s estimated 287,000 state primary school children for a third academic year. By July 2026 iIt is estimated that this programme will save have saved London families up to £1,500 per child since its introduction in September 2023
• Ensuring the MPS has the resources it needs to tackle violent crime by investing additional resources in front line policing and crime prevention. The Mayor has doubled investment in policing to help tackle crime, including recurring funding for 1,300 additional police officers funded from council tax and business rates income. While the Mayor provides MOPAC and
the MPS with as much funding as possible, the impact of significant real-terms national government cuts over the last 14 years has left the MPS in a difficult financial position
• 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. The Mayor has funded more than 500,000 positive opportunities to help divert vulnerable young Londoners away from crime – including through London’s Violence Reduction Unit
• Providing resources to roll out a transformation programme to support the LFB in implementing the recommendations of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and other key improvements. The LFB now responds to emergencies faster and is rated as outstanding in how it responds to major and multi-agency incidents
• Freezing bus and tram fares in 2025 and retaining the one-hour Hopper fare thus making transport more affordable for millions of Londoners. The Superloop network will also be expanded
• Building on the success of 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 saw over 500,000 passenger journeys between its opening date in 2022 and early 2025. This has made it the busiest rail line in the UK. This follows on from the opening of the Northern line extension to Nine Elms and Battersea Power Station in September 2021
• Rolling out new trains on the Piccadilly line, with the first new trains serving customers from 2025 and upgrading the signalling on the District and Metropolitan lines
• Continuing to improve accessibility across TfL’s network, increasing the availability of stepfree access and toilets. In 2025-26, TfL will increase investment in step-free schemes to make progress towards its goal of halving step-free journey times across the network, as well as its target of making 50 per cent of London Underground stations fully accessible. All 41 Elizabeth line stations are now step-free
• Continuing to tackle London’s housing crisis, by investing £1.5 billion in 2025-26 to increase the number of Londoners who have a safe, decent and affordable home. The Mayor will also allocate resources to tackle homelessness and reduce rough sleeping
• Investing in schemes designed to make walking, cycling and public transport safer, cleaner and more appealing in partnership with London boroughs.
The following tables compare the GLA Group’s planned spending for 2025-26 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 and the fire brigade. Overall, the council tax requirement has also increased for this reason. There has been a 2 per cent increase in London’s residential property taxbase.
Find out more about our budget at: www.london.gov.uk/budget
Havering Council key contacts
Benefits – information www.havering.gov.uk/benefits
Business Rates – information www.havering.gov.uk/businessrates
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
If you would like this document in another format such as large print, braille or audio tape or if your first language is not English and you need help with it, please contact us on 01708 433997
