Safer streets, more homes - Westminster unveils new budget measures

A massive programme of investment in fighting anti-social behaviour and providing more Council owned temporary accommodation during the cost of living crisis is at the heart of Westminster City Council’s proposed budget published today.

The theme of safety on the streets and the security of a home are supported by one of the largest investments ever – doubling the number of CCTV cameras on the streets to 200 (including up to 40 new cameras in the West End as part of the Council’s upcoming Westminster After Dark initiative), action on targeting ASB hot spots and tackling the housing crisis with a £140 million investment. At the same time, the Council is proposing to invest a massive £2.6m into cushioning the cost of adult social care – meaning hundreds of adult social care users will now not pay for care while hard working care assistants will earn more.

Despite the scale of new investment, the Council Tax rise equals just 48p a week for a Band D* property, which means Westminster still has one of the lowest Council Tax rates in the country. The Westminster City Council part of the Council Tax rises by 4.99 per cent overall – 2.99 per cent for council services and 2 per cent for the portion set aside for adult social care.

Headline announcements in the proposed budget include:

• £2m for anti-social and city management measures – including doubling the number of CCTV cameras to 200, creating a new team to combat ASB and recruiting extra officers to fight noise nuisance. The installation of up to 40 new cameras in the West End – focusing on Soho and Leicester square - is the most significant council security investment in the area in nearly a decade.
• A new investment of £140m in Council owned temporary accommodation properties to curb the reliance on expensive hotels and provide a more secure home for those waiting for permanent social housing.
• An extra £1.2m to tackle rough sleeping and help people off the pavements and into safety
• An additional £1.4m to increase the pay of the personal care assistants (over 400 staff)  who provide care for Westminster residents through direct payments. This will help more people who use adult social care to employ the carer they want as they will now be able to pay a competitive salary.
• An additional £1.2m to level up the threshold at which people start to pay for their social care costs so that it is the same for everyone regardless of age. This will help over 460 residents aged under 65 to keep more of their income before paying care bills.
• An extra £1m on cost of living support – for example free school meals during school holidays, supermarket food vouchers, a hardship fund and supporting specialist advice centres.
• Investing in new Community hubs such as Ernest Harris House opening this Spring and the Pimlico Community hub at site of the Old Pimlico Library opening in 2026

The Council will also deliver new savings of nearly £30m by 2028 through measures including greater efficiencies in contracts and the switch to an electric cleaning and waste fleet.

The proposed budget will go to the City Council’s cabinet before being voted on at full Council on March 5^th.

Cllr Adam Hug, leader of Westminster City Council, said:

“Safety and assurance for our residents – whether on the streets, keeping a roof over their heads or with help for the less well-off – is at the very heart of this Budget.

“Like all London councils, we are facing unprecedented demands on our services with spiralling costs for housing and care. I am proud that we have been able through careful management and savings to target money to those who need it most while keeping a rise in Council tax to the bare minimum.

“We all know everything is more expensive these days – food, rent, and looking after elderly family members. We are keeping bills down for those who can least afford it, but I am also pleased we can increase the hourly pay of those care assistants who do such a vital job but are often on the lower end of the pay scale.

“Wherever you live in Westminster, you should be able to enjoy your surroundings without fear of groups hanging around on corners, dealing drugs or other anti-social behaviour and making a noise. Our mobile cameras are already helping in court prosecutions and we will deploy them wherever residents need them most.”

You can see full details of the proposed Budget here: https://committees.westminster.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=130&MId=6438&Ver=4