Decision

That Cabinet is recommended to
consider this report, and make the following recommendations to
Full Council for approval, for the reasons set out in this report
and appendices:

To approve a balanced
budget for 2025/26 as set out in the report, including the
underlying principles and assumptions.

 

To approve
£12.3m of new investment on key services for
residents.
To increase the
Hammersmith & Fulham element of Council Tax by 2.99% as
modelled by the Government in its spending power calculations for
local government.

 

To apply the Adult
Social Care precept levy of 2% as modelled bythe Government in its
spending power calculations for local government.

 

To approve fees and
charges, as set out in Appendix E, including freezing charges in
adult social care, children’s services, and General Fund
housing.
To approve the
Medium-Term Financial Strategy and to note the proposed funding
reforms from 2026/27 onwards and budget projections to 2028/29 made
by the Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Services in
consultation with the Strategic Leadership Team. (Appendix
B)
To note the statement
of the Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Services, under
Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003, regarding the adequacy
of reserves and robustness of estimates (paragraph 66).
To approve the
reserves strategy and forecast as set out in Appendix
H.
To require all
Directors to report on their projected financial position compared
to their revenue estimates in accordance with the Corporate Revenue
Monitoring Report timetable.
To authorise
Directors to implement their service spending plans for 2025/26 in
accordance with the recommendations within this report, the
council’s Standing Orders, Financial Regulations, relevant
Schemes of Delegation and undertake any further consultation
required regarding the Equalities Impact Assessment.
Set the
council’s element of Council Tax for 2025/26 for each
category of dwelling, as outlined in the table below and in full in
Appendix A and calculated in accordance with Sections 31A to 49B of
the Localism Act 2011.

Category of Dwelling

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

Ratio

6/9

7/9

8/9

1

11/9

13/9

15/9

18/9

H&F (£)

640.69

747.47

854.25

961.04

1,174.60

1,388.16

1,601.73

1,922.08

 

To note, based on the
Mayor of London’s draft consolidated budget, the element of
Council Tax to be charged by the Greater London Authority in
accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992
for each of the categories of dwellings as shown in the table
below.

Category of Dwelling

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

Ratio

6/9

7/9

8/9

1

11/9

13/9

15/9

18/9

b) GLA (£)

     326.92
 

     381.41
 

      435.89
 

490.38

     599.35
 

     708.33
 

     817.30
 

     980.76
 

 
13.That the overall
Council Tax to be set at £1,451.42 per Band D property as
follows:

Category of Dwelling

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

Ratio

6/9

7/9

8/9

1

11/9

13/9

15/9

18/9

a) H&F (£)

640.69

747.47

854.25

961.04

1,174.60

1,388.16

1,601.73

1,922.08

b) GLA (£)

326.92

381.41

 435.89

490.38

599.35

708.33

817.30

980.76

c) Total (£)

967.61

1,128.88

1,290.14

1,451.42

1,773.95

2,096.49

2,419.03

2,902.84

 
14.To authorise the
Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Services to collect and
recover National Non-Domestic Rate and Council Tax in accordance
with the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (as amended), the Local
Government Finance Act 1992 and the Council’s Scheme of
Delegation.
15.To note the
Council’s estimated position on the Collection Fund (as set
out in paragraph 60).
16.To note the
performance on the management of arrears across the Council on all
debts due (as set out from paragraph 71).