Ealing’s council tax will be frozen for the fourth consecutive year. The decision was made at the annual budget setting meeting on Tuesday.

The council has taken a one-off government grant to freeze council tax. The council will have to find an extra £3.1 million when the grant stops next year.

The budget also delivers a package of savings as the council continues to reduce its spending by £85 million following government cuts.

The council has given priority to protecting the borough’s most vulnerable residents and frontline services, while back office departments have faced a greater proportion of the savings.

Despite the cuts, the council is investing in a number of areas next year, with highlights including:

• An additional £80 million has been earmarked over the next four years for the borough’s schools. This includes projects to expand schools following a massive surge in primary school applications as well as improvements to special needs education.
• £1.3 million to upgrade Hanwell and Perivale libraries and £890,000 to relocate Southall Library to the more accessible and centrally located Dominion Centre. This will be funded from the return of the £2 million from the Icelandic bank administrators.
• More than £10 million for resurfacing roads and pavements over four years, plus £1.5 million to improve road signs, street markings, gullies and kerbs.
• £500,000 to improve the appearance and condition of the borough’s main high streets.
• £200,000 to put towards a new lift at Ealing Broadway station and upgrade its facilities in readiness for Crossrail.

Council Leader, Councillor Julian Bell, said: "We’ve again frozen council tax, which is the right thing to do when so many families are facing financial hardship, but when the government grant stops next year there will be a £3.1million shortfall. More than half our funding comes from the government and we have to save £85million."

"Despite the cuts I’m pleased we’ve still been able make some new investments, such as spending £80 million to improve and expand schools and £10 million for road and pavement renewal."