Hounslow (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Hounslow Council’s plan to dim street lights to cut costs amid £30M budget shortfall sparks backlash, with critics calling the proposal ‘madness’.
If the plan is carried out, the local government would save £200,000 annually by dimming some street lights and turning off others. Opposition council members and locals responded negatively to the suggestion, despite Council Leader Councillor Rajawat’s clarification that any such actions would be in accordance with police recommendations to guarantee safety.
Ronnie Mushiso, a Conservative councillor, initiated a petition urging the council to reevaluate the street illumination cuts. As of this writing, 459 people had signed the petition.
He said: “The Labour-run Hounslow Council are considering dimming local street lights further in a desperate move to cover the costs of their mismanaged administration. We should never compromise on public safety.”
Richard Wheatley, a 63-year-old IT specialist, has spent more than 23 years residing in Chiswick. ‘Total madness’ is how he described any intention to dim street lights to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
He said: “It is not a coherent policy, particularly when we have increasing crime and decreasing police officers. What about the focus on the safety of women and girls?
By dimming street lights you’re putting vulnerable people at risk. It isn’t well thought through, people will feel more unsafe.”
Any modifications, according to Hounslow Council, are a part of an evaluation of how to “efficiently manage lighting across Hounslow.” Every idea will be thoroughly examined, according to the local government, and any suggestion will be “subject to consultation from key stakeholders who will be able to give an idea of the most likely impact a decision would have.”
How Hounslow Council plans to maintain budget balance?
The council plans to deploy £28 million from its financial reserves in other areas. This includes £14 million to “balance risk over the year” and an additional £14 million to support budgetary commitments. Financial reserves are “only for a rainy day… in many respects that day has come,” Cllr. Rajawat informed the LDRS in December 2024.
Cllr Rajawat said: “This budget is ambitious and responsible for building for the future. That means we are making very tough decisions whilst protecting services residents value… we aren’t fundamentally cutting any services, nor are we getting rid of a huge amount of stuff.”
The council will use financial reserves, cut back on some services, and raise council tax by the maximum permitted rate of 4.99 percent in order to finance some of the budget. Currently, the borough’s Band D properties pay £1991.01 in council tax annually.
This will rise by nearly £100 to £2090.36 annually under the new regulations. The social care of adults and children will receive half of a Band D council tax charge.
There will also be cuts to the council tax relief program. Currently, you are entitled for some kind of council tax help if your household’s monthly income is less than £2,000; however, this is tapered based on your earnings.
Currently, households with incomes under £1,500 contribute £125 per month to the bill. Those making less than £1,000 pay £80, those making less than £500 pay £40, and those making less than £250 pay nothing. Everyone is required to pay a certain amount of council tax under the new regulations.
Pensioners would not be impacted by the plans, but thousands of individuals would lose their existing discount and everyone of working age would have to contribute to their cost.
What are the charges and fines implemented by the Hounslow Council?
In an effort to raise £400,000, the council will also introduce a revamped parking policy that will incorporate emissions-based charging, raising parking fees for cars with greater pollution levels.
Both on-street and off-street PayByPhone parking in Hounslow are already subject to emissions-based parking fees. In order to “more accurately reflect the differing levels of emissions produced,” the new measures would increase the number of bands in the program.
The government raised the maximum penalties in 2023 for a number of environmental infractions, such as flytipping and littering. It is proposed to raise the maximum sums charged for these violations, as Hounslow does not already charge the maximum amount.
Fly-tippers currently face fines of up to £400; this will soon rise to £1,000. Currently, there is a £300 fine per infraction for people or companies who improperly handle or dispose of waste. The maximum increase will be £600.
Additionally, there will be a 233.33% rise in littering fines. Offenders may now receive fines of up to £150, but under the new regulations, fines may reach £500. It is anticipated that this will result in an extra £276,000.
Adult social care is allocated £13.7 million in the budget, which Cllr Rajawat claims is one of the council’s largest annual expenses. Adult social care can include various forms of therapy, assistance with everyday tasks, and aid with social activities.
To stabilise the market and workforce’, the council will continue to pay the London Living Wage with the additional funds. Additionally, the augmented funds will “address the ongoing cost pressures” of employment, such as the increase in employer national insurance.
By “supporting collaborative work with local NHS and hospital discharge pathways,” the additional funds will also help ease the mounting strain on local healthcare.