Hackney passes budget amid protests against cuts to services

Town Hall: the council agreed on budget savings

Hackney Council passed its budget last night amid angry protests against cuts to public services at the Town Hall.

The council says it faces cuts from central government and has had to agree savings of £22 million over the next year.

Mayor Jules Pipe said the savings had been found in renegotiating contracts, more back office savings, using less office space and running services “efficiently”, in order to protect frontline services.

But the proceedings were met with anger from protesters inside the council chamber.

One shouted: “You should fight the cuts. You are a Labour council. This is not what people elected you for. You should be ashamed of yourselves.”

Another was ushered out of the chamber by a security guard.

She said: “Yes I’m disrupting the meeting, but you are disrupting people’s lives. People are losing their jobs. It could be yours next!”

The council also agreed an average £20 annual rise in council tax across the board – the first rise in over a decade, which the council says will be used to fund services for elderly and disabled residents.

Mayor Pipe, presenting the budget, said: “Hackney continues to be hit hard by Central Government cuts and it’s not mathematically possible to go on making up the shortfall through efficiency measures alone.”

He said the council is telling the government it needs “greater funding, not less” otherwise future budgets will “require difficult choices” on public services.

He added: “In spite of the challenges, we’ve agreed a budget which I believe reflects residents’ priorities.

“Above all, this budget seeks to protect the most important services we provide, which is care and support for our most vulnerable adults and children.”

Mayor Pipe argued that the freeze in council tax has saved Band D taxpayers (considered the average) £1,400 over 10 years, and that the £20 a year increase (for a Band D property) will be almost entirely offset by the decrease in the GLA element of the charge.

Paula Mitchell, from the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, speaking outside the Town Hall, said: “They should stave off the cuts.

“The council should refuse the cuts and use its reserves instead. That’s what reserves are for.”

Correction: This article has been amended to reflect that the rise in council tax is for all homes and not only for Band  D properties, as previously stated.