The Social Inclusion and Community Safety Policy and Accountability Committee met on Monday 2 February 2026 to discuss the council's revenue budget for 2026/27 and the annual performance of the Law Enforcement Team. The committee reviewed proposals for the upcoming budget, including planned savings and changes to fees and charges, and received an update on the Law Enforcement Team's activities between April and December 2025.

2026/27 Revenue Budget and Medium-Term Financial Strategy

The committee considered the council's proposed revenue budget for 2026/27 and its Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS). The report outlines proposals for balancing the budget, which includes £9.5 million in efficiencies. A key proposal is a 2.99% increase in Council Tax, along with an additional social care precept, which together are expected to generate £4.4 million annually. This increase, equivalent to 92 pence per week for Band D properties, is deemed essential for maintaining financial resilience, meeting increasing demand for services, and mitigating the impact of inflation.

The budget aims to protect core services, ensure borough safety, support prosperity, promote an efficient council, and maintain strong financial governance. Savings relevant to this committee include £1.3 million from Place Redesign Phase 3, £500,000 from a review of fees and charges, and £450,000 from reforming the Local Support Payment Scheme. The report details proposed changes to fees and charges, with a standard uplift of 3.8% for most non-commercial and non-parking fees, though specific exceptions are noted, particularly for street and market trading, and shop front trading. For instance, the charge per waste bag for traders at Shepherds Bush Green Market is proposed to increase from £2.50 to £3.70. New charges are also being introduced for various licence applications and variations.

The council's commitment to social inclusion and community safety is highlighted, with significant investment in services such as the Law Enforcement Team (£4.6 million annually), Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and Modern Slavery and Exploitation services (£0.8 million annually), and the Gangs, Violence and Exploitation Unit (£1 million annually). The Third Sector Investment Programme (3SIF) continues to receive over £3.5 million annually to support community-based services. The report also details the council's Cost-of-Living Programme and its new Financial Inclusion Strategy, alongside the Digital Inclusion Strategy.

Annual Performance Report for the Law Enforcement Team

The committee received an update on the work of the Law Enforcement Team (LET) between April and December 2025. The report highlights the introduction of a bespoke mobile application, the LET App, which has significantly improved operational efficiency by enabling officers to record data, log service requests, and update cases in real-time from the field. This has led to faster response times, greater ground coverage, and an improved resident experience through enhanced transparency and tracking of complaints.

During the reporting period, the LET increased its patrol activity by 65.7% compared to the same period in 2024, with a particular focus on Highways and District Centres, which saw a 97% increase in patrols. Targeted anti-social behaviour (ASB) patrols also rose by 95.9%. While overall service requests increased by 33.8%, the LET's increased patrol coverage outpaced this demand, leading to a reduction in complaints later in the year, demonstrating the preventive impact of their visible presence. The report also details the LET's ongoing work with partner agencies to support homeless and street-sleeping communities, conduct multi-agency operations, and respond to various incidents, including the discovery of a sword and life-saving interventions using Naloxone. The team's intelligence work has also been praised by local police for its effectiveness in resolving long-standing ASB issues.