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Published: Friday, 25th February 2022

At a meeting of Full Council last night (24 February), councillors agreed to set council tax rates and the budget for the coming year 2022/23.  

The budget for 2022/23 will invest in Royal Greenwich’s communities and build on existing council programmes to support our most vulnerable residents. As a result of our proposals nearly 16,000 households will be exempt from paying any council tax next year.  

The budget will see some residents who are working age taxpayers additionally benefit from a further COVID hardship reduction of up to £175 for 2022/23. 

The Government has only awarded the Council a one-year settlement and based its funding on the assumption that the Council will increase council tax by the maximum amount and pass the rising costs of adult social care on to it residents. 

Due to this, the Council has no other option but to raise council tax by 1.99 per cent and 1 per cent for adult social care. This equates to 73p per week for a Band D property. However, thanks to the Council's prudent financial management council tax levels in Royal Greenwich are still at least £200* less than neighbouring Bexley.  

Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich Cllr Danny Thorpe said:  

“We are all feeling the pinch of rising energy bills, food and housing costs, and the Government's rise in national insurance that will hit working families from April onwards too. I want to be clear that these policies were not set by the Council, but we are doing what we can to support residents across the borough at this difficult time while maintaining and strengthening our services much as we can. 

“However, we have had to make some extremely tough decisions as we balance the Council’s annual budget. After 11 years of relentless government cuts, increasing demand for our services, rising inflation, and not being awarded the funding we need to help our communities prosper – we have been given no other option but to increase council tax - but we will protect the least well off. I believe our budget shows that a fairer Royal Greenwich is possible” 

Cllr Linda Perks, Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, said:  

“We know how vital council services are to our communities, and we want to ensure we maintain and strengthen these as much as we can. We have seen an increase in residents seeking support to meet basic needs, with the lowest income families affected the most. We have given more than 17,000 meals out to hungry children during the school holidays and the local food bank has distributed more than 64,000kg of food since last April - a truly staggering amount.” 

Foster and Shared Lives carers are being rewarded with a new 100 per cent council tax discount to thank them for the invaluable role they play in caring for our looked after children and adults. This was agreed at Full Council on Wednesday 26 January. 

Keeping healthy and active is essential for everyone’s wellbeing. Royal Greenwich has the highest levels of childhood obesity in London but to keep it residents moving and tackle underlying health inequalities the Council is making leisure and exercise cheap and accessible at its leisure centres.  

To help parents struggling with the cost of living there are proposals to significantly help cover the cost of school uniforms.  

Get in touch for support 

The Royal Borough of Greenwich offers a range of options and support for those who may be experiencing financial hardship. Anyone who is concerned is advised to get in touch to find out more about the options and support available for those experiencing financial hardship. 

Our Council Tax pages have more information about reductions, exemptions, second adult rebate, discretionary Council Tax relief, how to register a change in circumstances or arrange to pay by Direct Debit. Find out more here.

Note

* for a band D property.