At tonight's Westminster City Council meeting, Cllr Paul Swaddle (Conservative) called out Labour’s failure to defend local taxpayers from the government’s so-called “fairer funding” settlement. This deal could force council tax up by as much as 75% over the next four years.
In response, Labour Leader Cllr Adam Hug conceded his administration was “disappointed” but would not commit to fighting the settlement or protecting residents. Instead, he pointed to internal reviews and long-term restructuring plans.
Read the transcript below and find out more here.
Cllr Paul Swaddle (Conservative):
The government plans to cut funding to Westminster through their so-called “fairer funding” settlement, and expects our residents to foot the bill by allowing a massive increase in council tax. Will the Leader join me in writing to the government to condemn this “fairer funding,” which could lead to council tax rises of up to 75% over four years?
Cllr Adam Hug (Labour, Leader of the Council):
Thank you very much, Lord Mayor. We have already made our views very clear to central government. We are, of course, disappointed in the current settlement. However, we have set out clear plans to deal with this at a local level. Our ongoing transformation programme will reimagine how services are delivered and generate substantial savings.
We are reducing the temporary accommodation bill and continue to deliver significant departmental savings to operate as efficiently as possible. Crucially, we’re working with London Councils, Central London Forward, and other UK cities to make the case for local retention of revenue from the overnight visitor levy. This would ensure Westminster can continue to provide services that support both our visitor economy and our residents.
We’ve made clear that the current funding settlement does not serve the best interests of Westminster’s residents. Although we’ve seen some limited progress—particularly on how deprivation is measured—serious challenges remain. That’s why we’re pursuing a robust local plan to manage the financial pressures as effectively as we can.
This is the Same Old Labour story in Westminster: all talk, no action. Westminster Labour stand back while residents pay the price while receiving poor value for money.
Westminster Conservatives are standing up for local people and calling on the Council to demand fair funding without passing the burden onto hard-working taxpayers. We will continue pressing for responsible financial management, efficiency, and fairness across Westminster.
