We Asked, You Said, We Did

Through an online and paper survey and a series of engagement events, which were co-designed by local residents, we sought the views of residents and stakeholders on services on the World’s End Estate and surrounding area. This focused on services used, what services residents would like to see delivered in the future and how they would like to find out about services.

 The consultation also gathered feedback to inform the Blantyre Housing Office refurbishment.

Current services used:

The services currently most used by survey respondents are health and wellbeing services, sport and leisure activities, Council housing services and social/cultural events and activities. 

Finding out about local services

The most common ways that residents responding to the survey currently find out about local services is via leaflets/posters, word of mouth and via other organisations.

In the future, the top three ways survey respondents would like to find out about local services were leaflets/posters, the World’s End area booklet and Council e-newsletters.

 Locations for delivery

When asked about locations for service delivery, 1-2 World’s End Place was the most popular location amongst survey respondents, followed by Blantyre Housing Office for services aimed at Council Housing tenants and leaseholders.

 These locations were also popular with residents in conversations as part of the community engagement element of the consultation.

 Future services

In conversations with residents during community engagement events and activities, and via the survey, residents highlighted a number of areas where they would like to see additional services provided. These included:

• Services to support children, young people and parents
• Advice and guidance services
• Social and leisure activities
• Health and wellbeing support services
• Learning opportunities and employment support
• Tackling anti-social behaviour

 Blantyre Housing Office, future services

More residents responding to the survey and engaging in conversations during community engagement activities identified a repairs service as the service they would most like to see delivered from the Blantyre Housing Office

 Other services selected in the survey included Caretakers service, resident engagement and leaseholder services. These services also were identified in conversations with residents.

 Blantyre Housing Office, operating hours

The majority of respondents to the survey indicated that they were satisfied with the current opening hours.

The results of the consultation exercise are being used to develop a plan to bring additional services to the World’s End Estate, in line with the services identified by residents in the consultation exercise. The aim is to start delivering these services by April 2025.  More information will be added to the dedicated World’s End webpages in due course

We asked for views on proposed changes of the parking provision within the 375 Portobello Road, Henry Dickens Court, Longlands Court, Portobello Court and Tor Court housing estates and the World’s End underground car park.

We received a total of two letters of support across two of the off-street parking proposals and one comment on one of the proposals.

We have made the traffic order as originally advertised.

We asked for your views on a wide range of improvements to Westfield Park. The potential improvements included:

• Refurbished Toilet facilities – including Changing Places Facility
• Support for a café facility.
• Changing the rose garden to a sensory garden
• Additional benches and accessible picnic tables
• New planting
• Table Tennis table
• Outdoor gym
• Upgrading Lighting
• Installation of CCTV
• Installation of a drinking water fountain

Survey responses 113

General:

How often people visit the park:  Fifty-one percent of respondents said they visit Westfield Park every day,  thirty percent of  respondents visited two to three times per week, twelve percent of respondents visited once a week and five percent respondents less frequently.

Satisfaction levels with the park: Sixty-eight percent of respondents were either very satisfied or satisfied, Seventeen percent of respondents were neither satisfied or dissatisfied,  fifteen percent of respondents were either dissatisfied or very dissatisfied and one percent did not answer.

 Support for refurbishing the toilet facilities: Eighty-two percent of respondents supported the refurbishment/upgrade of the toilet facilities, four percent of respondents did not support, and thirteen percent do not know.

Support for a new café: Fifty-one percent of respondents supported a new permanent café, twenty-seven percent support a mobile/pop up café, nineteen percent do not support a new café and four percent did not know.

Support for changing the rose garden to a sensory garden: Thirty  seven percent supported changing to a sensory garden, thirty-five percent supported keeping as a rose garden  with companion planting, twenty-one percent wanted the area to remain as a rose garden and  seven percent did not answer.

Support for new benches and accessible picnic tables: Seventy-three percent of respondents supported were in favour, nineteen percent did not support,  eight percent did not know, and one percent did not answer.

Preferred Planting theme: Fifty percent of respondents said that they would like a mixed planting theme including plants beneficial to wildlife and pollinators, shrubs and grasses, seasonal bulbs, and sensory planting. Thirty-five percent of respondents wanted plants beneficial to wildlife and pollinators. Twenty-seven percent supported seasonal bulbs, nineteen percent sensory planting, thirteen percent ornamental shrubs and grasses and six percent either wanted none of these or did not answer.

Picnic table with chess board: Fifty percent of respondents supported, thirty-six percent did not support, and fourteen percent did not support or did not answer.

Table Tennis table: Fifty-two percent of respondent supported, thirty-three percent did not support, and fifteen percent did not know or did not answer.

 Installation Outdoor Gym: Fifty percent of respondents were in support, forty percent did not support, eight percent did not know, and two percent did not answer.

Gym equipment type of training method: sixty-one percent  preferred a combination of fitness equipment and calisthenics and thirty-nine percent preferred fitness equipment only.

Improving lighting: Seventy-one percent of respondents supported upgrading lighting, eleven percent did not support, and eleven percent did not know or did not answer.

Installation of CCTV: Eighty percent of respondents supported, twelve percent did not support, and eight percent did not know or did not answer.

Installation of a drinking water fountain: Eighty-two percent of respondents supported, twelve percent did  not support, and six percent did not know of did not answer.

Improvements

As a result of the consultation and what you have told us, we will be carrying out improvement works to the park over a period of two years.

 The following work will take place between September 2024 and March 2025:

• New drinking water fountain.
• Improved lighting.
• Additional park benches and picnic tables
• Planting improvements, including additional planting in the rose garden and we will also look at planting new roses.
• In ground no cycling paving slabs

In 2025/26 the remaining works will include:

•  Reconfigured and refurbished toilets and a new Changing Places facility
• CCTV will also be considered at key locations.

Other considerations

Café  - as there was support for a café, we will initially explore whether we can operate a  mobile/pop-up café shared with another nearby park and monitor uptake and demand for this facility.

Outdoor gym, chess table and table tennis – The other parks within the area will be reviewed along with Westfield Park within the next 18 months to look at what facilities are available in neighbouring Parks and where the best locations might be for these activities.

We asked for views on the proposal to prohibit all vehicles (except cycles) travelling on Old Brompton Road from turning right into Cresswell Gardens.

We had 14 objections and 18 letters of support to these proposals.

We have made the traffic order prohibiting all vehicles (except cycles) travelling on Old Brompton Road from turning right into Cresswell Gardens, as proposed.

We asked for views on the proposals to remove the pedestrian and cycle zone in that part of Kensington Park Road that lies between Blenheim Crescent and Elgin Crescent and to provide a south-eastbound one-way system applying to all vehicles except pedal cycles in Kensington Park Road, between Blenheim Crescent and Elgin Crescent, with an accompanying 'compulsory right turn except cycles' from Kensington Park Mews into Kensington Park Road.

We had no objections or letters of support for these proposals.

We have made the traffic order removing the pedestrian and cycle zone in that part of Kensington Park Road that lies between Blenheim Crescent and Elgin Crescent and to introduce a south-eastbound one-way system applying to all vehicles except pedal cycles in Kensington Park Road, between Blenheim Crescent and Elgin Crescent, with an accompanying 'compulsory right turn except cycles' from Kensington Park Mews into Kensington Park Road.

We asked for views on the proposal to prohibit all vehicles (except cycles) travelling on Old Brompton Road from turning left into Eardley Crescent.

We had 13 objections, one comment and 16 letters of support to these proposals.

• We have made the traffic order prohibiting all vehicles (except cycles) travelling on Old Brompton Road from turning left into Eardley Crescent, as proposed.

if we should install 80 new rental e-bike parking bay locations across the borough, to help reduce footway obstructions caused by rental e-bikes. 

Please see individual consultation ward reports below.

The Council is implementing 54 of the proposed rental e-bike parking bays, as below:

For views on a series of interventions that would give the local community and visitors a high-quality space to enjoy and provide a pleasant setting for the vibrant collection of shops, restaurants and small businesses on Beauchamp Place, Knightsbridge.

The proposals include widening the pavements, improving the street surface, introducing traffic calming measures and planting new trees. They have been developed by a stakeholder group made up of local businesses and residents to address current issues such as large volumes of traffic, uneven pavement and road surfaces, and street clutter.

We received 81 responses to the questionnaire. 60 per cent of respondents (49 responses) support or strongly support the proposals while 36 per cent (29 responses) oppose or strongly oppose the proposals. The responses are broken down below:

• Most comments supporting and strongly supporting the proposals are looking forward to the more attractive streetscape, more opportunity for al-fresco dining, better pavements and accessibility, and greening. Nevertheless, some supporters ask that loading bays are retained, that taxis have kerbside access for pick up and drop off, and better traffic management and parking enforcement.
• Most comments opposing and strongly opposing the proposals raise the impact on traffic and parking on neighbouring streets, particularly on Ovington Square. Some say that traffic in the area is already under pressure because of ongoing works on Sloane Street making Beauchamp Place a key alternative route. Respondents suggest that any changes should retain the current road width and traffic flow. They also worry that additional al-fresco dining may take up pedestrian space.
• To address these concerns, respondents opposing the proposals ask for more clarity over the impact on traffic and parking on neighbouring streets, the scope of interventions regarding road width, and measures to improved traffic management.

After considering the feedback, the project team have put forward the following measures to address concerns raised by consultees:

• Any loss of parking spaces will only be allowed if it does not significantly impact the area.
• Improvement works to Beauchamp Place, if allowed to be implemented, will not start until works on Sloane Street are completed and traffic is able to flow on both directions.
• The widening of the pavements will not impede upon traffic flow on Beauchamp Place or surrounding streets
• The pedestrian crossing will be a zebra crossing, rather than a light-controlled junction, in order to improve the flow of vehicles and traffic along the street, while allowing a pedestrian friendly environment.
• Loading bays and kerbside access for taxis will also be retained on Beauchamp Place.

Next steps

As of July 2024, we are commissioning detailed design of the proposals based on the consultation results.

Once the parking survey is complete, the project team will prepare a report to inform the decision to implement the project or not.

You can sign up for project updates by emailing the project team on GrowthandDeliveryTeam@rbkc.gov.uk

The Panel survey on making the borough safer focussed on gaining a better understanding of what would make Panel members feel safe and gain an insight into Panel members’ experiences of crime and antisocial behaviour as a witness and/or victim. This survey is a repeat of a similar survey conducted in both 2022 and  2023 benchmarks against the previous results to identify changes in opinions, attitudes, and experiences. 

Overall feelings of safety –  Eight in ten (81 per cent) Panel members feel safe when out and about in their neighbourhood during the day but feelings of safety drop for Panel members after dark with around half feeling safe (49 per cent). Forty-six per cent of Panel members agreed that there were places in their neighbourhood they were worried about visiting including badly lit areas and Council estates. Sixty-two per cent said that they had changed their behaviour in the last 12 months to feel safe which continues an upward trend over the years. The most often taken actions were sticking to main roads/avoiding badly lit areas and having more awareness of others and surroundings.  ​

Crime levels -  Forty-six per cent of Panel members feel that the crime levels in their local neighbourhood are average with 28 per cent feeling that they are high and 26 per cent low. The majority of Panel members (62 per cent) felt that the amount of crime in their local neighbourhood in the last 12 months was about the same. ​

Community safety priorities –  Of the four community safety priorities, drug related offences continue to be viewed as the biggest problem (60 per cent) followed by antisocial behaviour (52 per cent). The other crime issues in their area that Panel members are most concerned about are theft (71 per cent which has seen a 12 per cent increase on the 2023 results), motor vehicle crime (65 per cent) and burglary (58 per cent). ​

One thing to make you feel safer where you live – For the first time, Panel members were asked what one thing would make them feel safer in the neighbourhood where they live. By far and away the most mentioned measure was a more visible/increased police presence. There was also support for better enforcement/penalties for crime/ASB, CCTV and improved street lighting. ​

Experiences of crime and antisocial behaviour –  Just under half of Panel members (47 per cent) had not been a witness to or a victim of crime or antisocial behaviour in the past 12 months. A third (33 per cent) stated they had been a witness and 14 per cent a victim, whilst five per cent had been both a witness to and a victim.  Antisocial behaviour was both the most witnessed crime (28 per cent) and the crime Panel members were the most likely to be a victim of (10 per cent).

Impact of measures on crime and antisocial behaviour – As in the previous two years, Panel members felt that high visibility of police/wardens (94 per cent) would have the biggest impact on crime and antisocial behaviour in their neighbourhood. This was followed by environmental improvements for local neighbourhoods and enforcement against antisocial behaviour (both 92 per cent). CCTV was asked about as a separate measure for the first time in 2024, with 86 per cent thinking this would have an impact.​

• The full results of the survey were heard at the Safer K and C Board on 18^th April. This Board has senior representation from council services, police, criminal justice agencies and health services, thus ensuring senior decision makers from across key stakeholders are aware of the results. The Board had a detailed conversation about how the survey will inform the future of responses to crime and disorder and act as a key part of resident voice for Community Safety work programmes and projects.
• Where possible details on where respondents do not feel safe will inform operational taskings for CCTV, Street Enforcement Team and Police. These will be used alongside the business-as-usual practice of crime and disorder data.
• Over the next 12 months the findings will be used to refine community safety strategies and planning, specifically the borough’s CCTV Strategy and ASB Action Plan.

We asked for views on 42 proposals in the February 2024 Miscellaneous Parking Changes.

We received a total of 21 objections and 24 letters of support across 20 of the parking proposals.

We have made the traffic order as originally advertised apart from the proposal relating to Trebovir Road which was dropped in its entirety.

We asked for views on the proposal to convert RBKC Housing Resident Permit Holders (PBR) bay (parking bay number 7), to RBKC Housing personalised disabled bay (PBR 04) in the 375 Portobello Road housing estate and to convert RBKC Housing personalised disabled bay (EPC 09) to RBKC Housing Visitor (VIS) parking bay (parking bay number 9) in the Elm Park Gardens Central housing estate.

We received no objections to the proposals.

We have made the traffic order for the proposed changes to the 375 Portobello Road and Elm Park Gardens Central housing estates as originally advertised.

We recently published the draft Tenancy Strategy and asked for views on some of the key proposed changes. The draft Tenancy Strategy was developed following engagement with key stakeholders, including the Registered Provider Strategic Group.

We asked three questions as part of the consultation on the draft Strategy:

1. How strongly do residents support the main aims of the Strategy and do they have suggestions for additional aims?

2. Are there any particular areas of work that the Council and registered providers should focus on to strengthen their relationship and share best practice?

3. Do residents think anything else should be included in the Strategy?

The consultation closed on 29 February 2024 and we received 28 responses to the survey (of which 21 were residents).

• 75 per cent of respondents supported the main aims of the Strategy

• 50 per cent of respondents strongly supported the aims

• 14 per cent of participants opposed the aims.

The reasons given for not supporting the main aims included:

• The Strategy did not highlight tenants who live in overcrowded housing and the need to support residents under-occupying their homes to move to alternative housing

• Some respondents stated that offering lifetime tenancies is impractical due to the limited availability of social housing in the borough and the fact that individuals' circumstances often change meaning they should not be permitted to occupy scarce social housing at the expense of those in greater need

• One respondent expressed dissatisfaction that the Council had previously re-introduced lifetime tenancies (although two respondents stated the importance of long-term accommodation/lifetime tenancies).

Suggestions for key areas that the Council and registered providers could share best practice on included:

• Working together on social impact, such as financial inclusion, wellbeing and employment/training – included as a key area of work

• Customer service – included as a key area of work

• Antisocial behaviour and security issues – included as a key area of work

In terms of what else should be included in the Strategy, responses included:

• Overcrowding – included in priority two and as a key area of work (making the best use of housing stock)
• Disrepair – included as a key area of work
• Key workers having longer tenancies – we have a separate Key Worker and Intermediate Housing Policy and Intermediate Rent Tenancy Policy
• Making tenants aware of their right and responsibilities – the fourth priority is Making rights and responsibilities clear
• Preparing residents for flooding – fire and building safety included as a key area of work

The feedback from the consultation has helped us to finalise the new Tenancy Strategy:

• We have revised the four priorities to enhance their focus – it is now evident that the second priority (Supporting tenancy sustainment and making the best use of housing stock) includes making the best use of housing stock

• This priority outlines the continuous efforts to assist under-occupiers to downsize to a smaller home and people to move from accessible homes they do not need – and highlights our expectations for social housing providers to make the best use of their housing stock

• With regards to lifetime tenancies, we recognise that they allow tenants to remain in their homes even when their circumstances change, such as where an adult household member moves out of the home

• However, on balance, we are promoting lifetime tenancies because they provide a home for life and the security and peace of mind we know that residents want

• Lifetime tenancies enable residents to build a long-term future within their communities without having to undergo the uncertainty of a tenancy review at the end of the fixed-term

The final Strategy includes the following as a key area of work between the Council and registered providers:

• Making the best use of housing stock
• Resident engagement and customer service
• Fire and building safety
• Stock condition, damp and mould
• Social impact (such as financial inclusion, wellbeing and employment/training)

For your views on implementing a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in Earl's Court to tackle antisocial behaviour (ASB). 

There were 460 survey responses. More than 90 per cent of participants backed the PSPO, with 92 per cent  agreeing on the designated area. Concerns included aggressive begging, street drinking, and public drug use.

We approved the PSPO, incorporating public feedback and legal counsel. The PSPO features seven conditions targeting specific ASB activities and covers the entirety of Earl's Court ward. Regular reviews and community engagement will ensure its effectiveness.

At least once every five years, the Council is required to review all the polling districts and polling places in the borough. This is to make sure that all electors continue to have access to reasonable facilities for voting. The review looked at the scheme of polling districts and polling places, which must be agreed by Full Council.

As part of the review we proposed to change the location of  two specific polling places.

All those responding to the review supported the proposed changes, no one objected.

As the changes were supported by respondents, the proposed changes have been agreed and implemented.

Kensington and Chelsea is home to some of the most deprived households in the country and many households in the borough continue to struggle with the impact of the rising cost of living.

The Council has outlined its commitment to support a fairer borough and helping people with the cost of living and proposed making a  £100 support payment in May 2024 to low-income households likely to be struggling the most. The costs of the scheme will be met from the Council’s Cost of Living Reserve, which has been allocated for support of this kind.

We asked residents whether or not they supported the proposal for this support payment.

The majority of respondents (97 per cent) supported the proposal. The most selected ways that they felt that the £100 payment could help eligible households was ‘support with bills and utilities’ (83 per cent) and ‘support with food costs and other essentials’ (69 per cent).

Following the consultation and the high percentage of support for the proposal, it was agreed that the £100 support payment would go ahead which will help over 16,500 households with ongoing cost-of-living pressures. This decision was taken by the Council’s Leadership Team in February.

Payments will be made in May 2024 to eligible residents who are in receipt of certain benefits and details are available on the Council’s website and have been included in the Council tax information that has been sent to all residents.

The Council also provides wider financial support such as the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for those on a low income to help with their Council Tax bills.

You can find out more about the low-income support payment on our website.

A consultation was carried out on Fees and Charges proposals from 7 December 2023 to 7 January 2024. Information was included on the Council’s website and was communicated through various channels, including newsletters to the general public, the voluntary sector, businesses and key partners, inviting them to contribute. 

We received five responses to the consultation and thank all residents who took the time to respond.

All responses have been considered by the Lead Members in putting together the draft budget for 2024/25. A summary of the feedback received can be found in appendix 6 of the budget report.

No changes to the draft Fees and Charges proposals have been made as result of this feedback, but all feedback will be considered for future financial planning. The Fees and Charges Schedule can be found in appendix 15 of the budget report.

Kensington and Chelsea Council has launched a Customer Access Strategy aimed at improving the experience residents have when they contact us. We are committed to the strategy and to working together to achieve the ambitions in the strategy. We believe in co-design and want to form this user group to listen to the voices of those representative of the borough.

There were a total of 80 expressions of interest from across the borough. Thank you to everyone who expressed their interest in being part of the user group.

The Service Standards Project team selected members of the user group based on the demographic make-up of the borough to ensure the group is as broadly representative as possible. 

Whether the Council should introduce five new trees along Napier Road, in traffic islands within some of the parking bays. The scheme has been proposed following a successful application for Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) funding by a Holland ward resident.

We received 17 responses to the consultation. Eight responses  were from people who supported the proposals, six  agreed in part with the proposals and three  objected to the scheme.

Following consideration of all the comments received from residents and councillors, the Council has decided to proceed with the scheme to introduce five trees in traffic islands along Napier Road.The scheme has proceeded to detailed design, We hope to construct the traffic islands and install trees later this year.

For your views on the draft Strategy.

Following the various consultation activities, a consultation summary report was produced and modifications to the draft Strategy were made. These changes consider the comments and views of various stakeholders and deliver a strategy that has the support of those affected by flooding. 

The main changes to the strategy following consultation are:

• More information has been included in the Strategy on the impact of flooding on disabled people in the Borough.
• The Action Plan has been updated to identify the priority of each action.
• An action has been included in the Action Plan to require Thames Water to provide an annual summary of planned and completed investment in the Borough so that sewer flood risk can be effectively monitored.
• There is a greater emphasis on the potential for Garden Squares to hold water and reduce surface water flood risk to the wider community.
• More information has been included in the Strategy to set out the potential implications of the Government implementing Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act, which would place additional burdens on the Council.
• Some of the unnecessary jargon in the Strategy has been removed or clarified further in the glossary

A consultation was carried out on the draft savings, increased service provision (growth), and capital investment proposals between 9 November 2023 and 21 December 2023. Information was included on the Council’s website and was communicated through various channels, including newsletters to the general public, the voluntary sector, businesses and key partners, inviting them to contribute. 

Thirty-two people responded to the consultation on the budget proposals. This was more than double the previous year and the Council wishes to thank all residents who took the time to respond. 

Combining all responses, we received an even split of 12 respondents who supported the proposals and 12 respondents who opposed the proposals. We also received seven responses who were neutral or did not know what their stance was.

When asked what disagreements or alternative suggestions residents had with the consultation, the following key areas were mentioned. The Council reflected on these views to address residents’ concerns in preparing the 2024/25 budget, through the responses expressed below.

Lack of provision for Adult Social Care (ASC)

The Council is very aware of increasing cost pressures within the Adult Social Care sector and has put additional funding into this area as part of 2024/25 budget setting. To help manage demand and continue to provide high-quality services the Council is including growth of £2m, raise an additional £2m through the ASC Precept, as well as increasing the budgets for inflationary pressures.

The Council is also ensuring that concerns about discontinuation of reablement services are addressed; we will continue to provide support through our existing agencies for eligible residents and commission a new specialist reablement provider in 2024.

Concerns about Adult Mental Health scaling back were also raised, and we pleased to say there have been no reductions in service budget.

Lack of provision for Children’s services

The Council is very aware of cost pressures in these areas and have included £500,000 of budget growth to address the increasing numbers of care leavers and the increasing costs related to looked after children, due to the shortage of appropriate placements in the market.

In 2024/25 the Council will spend over £60m on Children’s Services and £25m on pupils with High Needs from the Dedicated Schools Grant supporting 759 pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans and pupils in alternative and hospital provision.

Councillor allowances and spend on staffing

All 50 councillors receive a basic allowance to cover intra-borough travel and other necessary subsistence costs. Following a review earlier this year, there has been a modest increase in the allowance from £11,027, to £11,689. This decision has been made following a five year freeze on the amount to compensate for inflationary costs. The allowance still remains below the average rate amongst other London Boroughs.

The 2024/25 budget includes staff savings of two per cent, totalling £2m. The Council is also considering further staff reductions for the 2025/26 budget. We are also introducing recruitment panels to help manage staffing levels.

Need for more investment into Environmental services

Ensuring the borough becomes greener is one of the three commitments in the Council Plan published last year, and we have committed to delivering focused actions to tackle climate change, local environmental issues and become a Net Zero council in our new Climate Emergency Action Plan. The Council is also reviewing a climate budget initiative, with ambitions to launch in 2024/25 to embed climate considerations in our financial activities.

The capital programme has made inclusions for £4.6m investment in parks and green spaces until 2026/27, including new playgrounds, park buildings and improving horticulture. The Council proposals also include £229,000 to increase street cleaning and graffiti removal, with extra resource also allocated to street cleansing teams to increase our commitment to providing for a cleaner, greener borough.

Housing and Temporary Accommodation Pressures

The Council have a statutory responsibility to provide temporary accommodation to eligible people in the borough, and due to increased demand and pressure the Council is looking to make efficiencies and make capital investment to reduce long term costs. The 2024/25 budget includes an additional £1.5m of budget growth to address these pressures going forward, as well as capital pipeline investment provision of £18m to increase available accommodation in the borough.  There will also be an increase in Local Housing Allowance from April 24t^h to match the 30^th percentile of local rents, so the cheapest 30 per cent of rents will be affordable to people on low income or Universal Credit.

Citizens’ Panel funding cuts and accessibility

The Citizens’ Panel remains a fundamental project within the Council to understand views of the public and help residents influence decision making processes. Assessment of the relatively small proposed £5,000 reduction shows little to no impact on the Council running the programme. We envisage being able to regularly recruit new members to the panel to keep it representative of the borough and will continue to ensure all accessibility requests made to attend the event are met, as it has done over the past three years.

Council Tax Inequality and Rebate

The Council is proposing again in 2024/25 to offer support to less well-off households and ensure residents with greater resources are contributing more towards the Council’s overall funding. The current proposal under review is to provide £100 to 16,000 low income groups in the borough. Despite the difficult decision to increase council tax by 4.99% for additional funding for public services, we have also ensured that our council tax rate remains in the lowest quartile in London. We have extended our empty homes council tax premium to properties that have been empty over a year (which used to be over two years), with anticipated additional income of £871,000.

Needed more clarity on what the budget proposals are

We intend to start the consultation earlier in 2025/26 to allow more time for residents to complete their responses, and welcome feedback on how to make the documents easier to understand and complete. We have also held sessions with the Youth Council to explain local government financing and engage students in the consultation process, to encourage involvement with all residents in the borough.

A summary of the feedback received and the Council’s responses to them can be found in appendix 6 of the budget report.