Islington Council has approved its 2024-25 budget, which will see core council tax rise by 2.99% and £10 million worth of savings made.
The tax hike will see the average household pay nearly £70 a year more, while savings will be made in various sectors, including £2 million within the adult social care system.
The two measures, passed on 29 February, are aimed at helping the Council cope with a £19 million projected deficit in next year’s budget, part of a greater trend within the country of decreasing funding for local governments.
Speaking about spending cuts, Deputy Council Leader Diarmaid Ward said: “We’ve been forced to make £300 million worth of budget savings since 2010.”
According to Ward, a rising number of councils across the country are considering issuing section 114 notices, which declares a council as being unable to meet their financial commitments.
He placed a great deal of blame on the Conservative regime for the financial woes of local governments, stating: “This Tory government’s approach to local government funding leaves councils high and dry.”
Residents have felt the impact of the lack of resources available locally. Zoë Candlin, who runs After Noah, a furniture shop near Angel, said: “There isn’t enough money for things anymore, like waste collection or the police.
“Daily, people at Angel are stealing piles of things from shops around here. Not only ours but also cashmere sweaters from Uniqlo, for example. Nothing is happening to them because there aren’t any police around because there’s no money.”
In a statement about both the national and council budget, leader of the council Kaya Comer-Schwarz said: “Despite the continued lack of support and understanding from the Government, we will do everything we can to maintain our excellent public services. We delivered a balanced budget on 29 February to ensure we meet our ambitions, as set out in our Islington Together 2030 plan.”
Aspiring journalist, particularly interested in covering politics and sports.