Press Releases

Ealing agrees £20million investment but keeps Council Tax rise to 1.9% (PR 1185)

Ealing Council has tonight agreed an investment package worth more than £20million, yet Council Tax will increase by only 1.9% in 2008/09 - that’s amongst the lowest increases of any London council.

Highlights of the investment package include:

£7.5million for road and pavement repairs – the largest investment in road resurfacing in Ealing in a decade
£3.6million for the creation of a new Heritage Quarter in Ealing, including £2.3million for the restoration of Pitzhanger Manor House and Gallery
£2million for the regeneration of Southall town centre
£1.5million for the regeneration of West Ealing shopping precinct and the Green Man Estate
£1million to enhance Hanwell town centre and £2million more to improve Hanwell Community Centre
£2million for the regeneration of Acton town centre
£2.5million to be shared between Northolt, Perivale, Greenford and Park Royal for regeneration and improvement projects
£1million for the borough’s youth services, to be spent on developing existing facilities for young people and creating new ones
£1million to improve the borough’s parks, which includes £555,000 to refurbish eight playgrounds and £400,000 for general park improvements such as new litter bins, benches and path resurfacing
£2.5million to pay for adaptations to the homes of people with disabilities
£146,000 for a new street washing programme to blast grime off dirty streets, plus more cash to scrap charges for the Council taking away old fridges and freezers to discourage fly-tipping.

Council Leader Jason Stacey said: “Last year our focus was on getting the basics right. We’re continuing that work, but now we’re taking the next step towards making Ealing one of London’s best boroughs. It’s great that through sound financial management we’re able to invest so much new money, while keeping the borough’s Council Tax increase to just 1.9%.

“This budget is about preserving everything that’s good about the borough and making the most of our rich heritage. We want people to be inspired by the area they live in and to boost pride in Ealing.”