It's official - Redbridge council tax is going up by 4.99%, with a three per cent social care precept

The most important financial decisions for the next financial year in Redbridge were made at the council’s budget meeting at the Town Hall in Ilford last night (Thursday, February 23).

Despite heated exchanges between Labour and the Conservatives, plans to increase council tax by 4.99 per cent, spend £71,374,000 on capital expenditure projects like town centre regeneration and swimming pools, and £36 million on schools over five years were all given the green light.

Cabinet member for finance Cllr Kam Rai defended the council tax hike, which will see Band D properties pay £1,476.09 a year, and includes three per cent exclusively to fund adult social care.

He said: “The social care precept isn’t the right solution but it’s the only one we have in front of us.

“We’ve got a social care crisis in Redbridge and the country as a whole.

“We need a Government-led approach on this, but we’re just not getting one.

“So instead we’re being used as local tax collectors so the elderly and vulnerable get the dignified care they deserve."

Redbridge leader Cllr Jas Athwal added that despite having to make £30,827,000 in savings, the council is still investing in improving the borough’s infrastructure, employment opportunities, and schools.

He said: “With unprecedented cuts from the Tory Government, this budget presents new challenges we need to overcome.

“Demand is going up and central Government funding is going down.

“The reality is we need to provide a lot more for a lot less.”

Cllr Athwal cited improvements to Ilford town centre, the new Wanstead swimming pool, £1 million on employment and skills, and a borough-wide LED street lighting system as reasons to be positive at a time of “savage Tory austerity”.

But the Conservatives failed to see the positives, with group leader Cllr Paul Canal saying the budget was like “letting a crack addict run a pharmacy”.

Cllr Canal backed Cllr Robert Cole’s calls to reverse cuts to services for children with special educational needs (SEN) and day care opportunities for adults with learning difficulties.

He said: “I think we could’ve expected a better budget from Joey Essex.

“After three years of a Labour Redbridge Council what do we have?

“Massively higher borrowing, higher debt, slashed reserves, and now a record council tax increase – the highest in London.

“Spending £2 million on redundancies and then £1 million on rehiring staff is a choice. Not spending £2 million on free garden waste collection is also a choice.

“Redbridge residents deserve better and at the 2018 local elections they will have the chance to vote for better.”

Cllr Suzanne Nolan also expressed concerns: “Why are we closing day care centres when the Woodbine Centre in Wanstead is full to capacity?

“We are attacking the most vulnerable in the borough.”

Cabinet member for housing Cllr Farah Hussain responded: “If it’s a choice between picking up people’s garden leaves for free and protecting homeless families, I know which one I’ll be making.”

Redbridge boss Cllr Athwal stepped in to slam Cllr Canal’s claims about council tax.

He said: “Twenty-eight out of 32 London boroughs are increasing council tax and so are 95 per cent of councils across the country.

“The reason for that is the funding formula from their Tory Government.

“Cllr Canal is talking complete rubbish.”

Cllr Bob Littlewood added the Redbridge Tories “have started to believe their own fake news”, before the final proposals were approved.