Press Releases
Council budget means millions more for cleaner, safer streets (PR 947)
Ealing Council will spend an extra £10 million pounds in its budget for 2007/08 to meet residents' priorities and make the borough's streets cleaner and safer.
The extra investment includes funding for 50 new Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) to help Ealing Council and the police fight crime and anti-social behaviour.
Three new community safety officers will be added to the council's current four-strong team. They work with residents to develop schemes that tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, like alley-gating, Controlled Drink Zones and Dispersal Zones.
Ealing Council will also put four more envirocrime officers on the streets to catch and fine fly-tippers, litter-louts and graffiti-taggers.
And £1.5 million will be put into keeping the council’s street sweepers out for longer and more often around the borough, with many more streets to be cleaned every day instead of twice a week.
All these measures were confirmed when Ealing Council announced its budget for 2007/08, on Tuesday (6 March) night.
Council Leader Jason Stacey said: "We have invested millions into services which residents want to see improved the most.
"This is a budget which puts more council officers and PCSOs out and about keeping our streets cleaner and communities safer.
"And we have been able to do this by becoming a more efficient and financially sound council which is providing value for money."
The budget decisions mean Ealing Council has kept its council tax rise to 1.9%, which is the lowest rise in the borough since 1994 and well below the rate of inflation.
However, because of the Greater London Authority precept, the total Band D council tax increase will be 2.65% (£1,344.10)
Ealing Council's budget also includes £775,000 to help fight the Mayor and TfL's proposals for the West London Tram by putting together the strongest case possible to take to public inquiry.
There is also a major focus on Ealing’s youth, including the creation of the new Borough Apprenticeship Scheme. Working with businesses and training providers, this will aim within its first year to create 100 extra apprenticeships across the borough, including 20 at the council.
The budget also means three new youth workers will be brought in to help get young offenders to stop committing crime and back on the right path.
Other highlights include more than half a million pounds of additional investment to help adults with learning disabilities.