Hammersmith and Fulham faces steep council tax rise or deep service cuts

Hammersmith and Fulham is among several London boroughs allowed to raise council tax above the 5% ceiling after central government reduced its grant funding. Rowan Ree, the council's finance cabinet member, explained that the scale of the cuts over the next four years means internal efficiency measures will not be sufficient to balance the books. The borough, which currently has the third-lowest tax rate in England, faces a potential rise from a Band D household payment of £1,519 to almost £2,000 by April 2027.

Officials stress that the low rates were achieved through “ruthless” savings and unique services such as a dedicated law-enforcement team and free primary-school breakfasts. With a 54% real-terms reduction in grants since 2010 and a deprivation ranking of 120th out of 296, the council must choose between steep tax hikes or deep cuts to services. A public consultation on the options is planned before a final decision is made by December.