Published: Thursday, 23rd February 2017

Spending has been focussed on areas residents have highlighted as priorities.

Key spending areas

At a meeting of Full Council last night (22 February), Councillors agreed to spend £279.6m on schools and £79.7m on Children's Services in 2017-18.

Other key spending areas include Health and Adults, which has been allocated £77.4m, and Community Services which will receive £48.4m, enabling the Council to continue to provide a weekly refuse collection and take tough action on fly-tippers.

The budget has been kept stable, protecting frontline services, thanks to a robust and forward thinking four year financial strategy which has seen the Royal Borough make over £100m in savings since 2010.

Increased demand on adult social care

This year will see Council Tax rates rise following encouragement from central government. Due to a national funding shortfall, the Government has asked local authorities to raise Council Tax by three per cent to cover the increasing demand on adult social care plus a further 1.99 per cent for inflation.

In the Royal Borough, the entire 4.99 per cent rise will be allocated to adult social care in recognition of the pressures on the service.

Ensuring vulnerable residents receive help

Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich Cllr Denise Hyland said: "We've focussed spending on the areas you've raised with us through our recent residents' survey and series of Better Together meetings.

"While our hands are tied in terms of raising Council Tax to help meet the national adult social care funding crisis, I am sure residents agree that it is important to make sure that we do all we can to ensure vulnerable residents receive the help and support they need."