Latest news with #AnthonyOkereke
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New £1 million fund to help struggling Greenwich residents with council tax
A new £1 million fund has been launched to help residents in Greenwich struggling to pay their council tax. The Greenwich Supports Council Tax Hardship Fund will provide targeted relief for those on the lowest incomes who are experiencing financial hardship due to changes to the Local Council Tax Scheme, which came into effect in April. Councillor Anthony Okereke, leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said: "Everyone deserves a fair chance, and that means ensuring support is in place when people need it most. "It is never an easy decision to change the support we offer, but we must face the reality that with decreased funding to local councils following a decade of austerity, we are using the funding we do have to ensure no one is left to struggle alone. "This new fund will cushion the impact for those facing financial hardship, while we continue to offer support through advice, guidance and practical help." The new fund will run alongside existing services including the Welfare Rights and Money Advice team, helping residents not only with their council tax, but taking control of their finances. Councillor Jackie Smith, cabinet member for inclusive economy, business, skills and Greenwich Supports, said: "This isn't about handouts, it's about offering residents the right kind of help, at the right time. "Whether that's a direct award to reduce council tax or a conversation with our advisors, we're making sure support is joined up and tailored to the needs of our communities." Awards from the fund are based on an assessment, with priority given to those already claiming council tax support or who would have been entitled before recent changes to the scheme. Councillor Denise Hyland, cabinet member for finance, resources and social value, said: "The Greenwich Supports Council Tax Hardship Fund complements our ambition to support all residents in hardship and protect the services they rely on. "It's not lost on us that our residents will be increasingly concerned about rising costs, which is why it's our mission to do what we can to ensure people are living happier, longer, more fulfilling lives with fewer people experiencing poverty, hardship or inequality." Applications will open in the coming weeks. To be eligible, you must live in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, already receive council tax support or have a live application in progress, be struggling to pay council tax for the year 2025 to 2026, and have already claimed any other discounts or exemptions you're entitled to, such as single person discount. If your circumstances are exceptional, for example, if you are a carer, have a health condition, or have recently experienced a major life event such as bereavement, you may also be eligible. You must be able to provide recent bank statements and other evidence showing your financial situation. This fund is only for help with this year's council tax. If you're struggling with arrears or debt, other support is available.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How much is your council tax going up? London boroughs with biggest bills revealed
London's 33 borough councils are starting to reveal how much their council tax bills will rise from April. Most are expected to agree a near five per cent rise in demands, according to draft budget planning documents. Councils that have already indicated such plans include Greenwich, Havering, Islington, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey and Tower Hamlets. Newham is seeking an exceptional 9.99 per cent hike in a bid to prevent itself from going bust. Haringey, which said it received outer London levels of funding despite inner London levels of need, is to ask the Government for £37m of 'exceptional financial support' to cover day-to-day spending and look after vulnerable residents. In addition, Sir Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has already said he wants his share of bills to increase by four per cent, primarily to provide more funding for the Metropolitan police. This will increase the mayor's 'precept' from £471.40 to £490.38 for benchmark band D bills, a rise of £18.98. Taken together, many households will pay in excess of £2,000 a year or £200 a month, as bills are normally paid over 10 successive months. A total of 15 London boroughs already charge in excess of £2,000 a year for band D bills: Barking and Dagenham, Bexley, Brent, Camden, Croydon, Enfield, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Kingston, Lewisham, Redbridge, Richmond, Sutton and Waltham Forest. Boroughs almost certain to break the £2,000 threshold for average bills for the first time include Greenwich, Hounslow, Merton and Islington. There are concerns that the dire finances of many town halls will see them target the poorest Londoners for the first time, meaning that carers, lone parents and people with disabilities will receive council tax demands. Greenwich said it had 'no choice' but to take the 'tough decision' to increase its share of bills by 4.99 per cent. This will add £1.39 a week onto its band D bill - equating to £72.28 a year. Greenwich leader Anthony Okereke said: 'Our draft budget serves as a stark reminder of the financial realities created by decades of underfunding by the previous government. This damage cannot be done overnight. 'The good news is that we've received a better financial settlement this year, which will help us continue improving services. We've also been successful in finding innovative ways to reduce the costs of temporary accommodation, which have been crippling other councils.'Islington said its likely increase would also amount to £1.39 per week - or £72.28 a year - at band D. When the mayor's precept is added, its benchmark bill will rise to £2,011. Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman said the borough was 'blazing a trail' by offering free school meals and grants to buy school uniforms to ease the cost-of-living crisis. Havering said it would increase its share of bills by 4.99 per cent, taking its total band D bill to £2,313.55. At the same time, it will close three of its 10 libraries - the branches in Harold Wood, South Hornchurch and Gidea Park - to save £288,000 a year. Hammersmith and Fulham said it set the third lowest council tax in the country but indicated that its bills would rise by 4.99 per cent. Havering said it had no option because of the increasing cost of adult social care and homelessness. The council has approved plans to convert offices into temporary accommodation for homeless families. Haringey said its band D total bill would increase by £100, from £2,107 to £2,207. This is due to its own share of bills increasing by £81.64 on top of the mayor's precept. Some councils also plan to double their charges for second homes. Each council's own share of bills is expected to include a 2.99 per cent hike in spending on council services and a two per cent increase in the amount spent on adult social care, which works out in practical terms as a 4.99 per cent rise.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Developer ordered to pay Greenwich millions after housing estate built unlawfully
A property developer has been ordered to pay millions of pounds to a council after a housing estate was built unlawfully. The Planning Inspectorate has granted retrospective planning permission to Comer Homes Group for their Mast Quay Phase II development in Woolwich, which was built unlawfully after deviating significantly from the approved planning permission given to the site's original owners in 2012. However, the Planning Inspectorate has ordered Comer Homes Group to pay the Royal Borough of Greenwich £7.8 million, including £4.4 million for affordable housing in other areas of the borough, £318,970 for carbon offsetting, and £3.4 million for improvements in the local area. (Image: The Royal Borough of Greenwich) The developer has also been ordered to provide a children's play area, make the development accessible to people in wheelchairs, and remove the intrusive orange cladding. The Planning Inspectorate has given Comer Homes Group 36 months to carry out these improvements, otherwise, an enforcement notice can be issued again requiring total demolition. The Royal Borough of Greenwich has said this forms a "huge package of planning obligations and funding" to offset some of the harm that Mast Quay Phase II has caused. The council said it stands by the decision it took to serve a planning enforcement notice last September against Comer Homes Group. The council said it was "disappointing" that the inspector was not satisfied it constituted "intentional" unauthorised development, but, during the appeal Comer Homes Group accepted it had built unlawfully. The council said it is "relieved" that the inspector's decision imposes strict planning conditions to improve the standard of the development. Council leader Councillor Anthony Okereke said: "We love our borough, and we have little sympathy for multi-millionaire property developers who don't think the English planning rules apply to them, or that they can build what they feel like in Greenwich. "You don't get to use the housing crisis to justify shoddy development because delivering what was originally given planning consent would have inconveniently cost you more money and reduced your profit. "Everyone in our borough deserves access to a safe and secure home that meets their needs. "New development can be high quality and deliver sufficient levels of affordable housing: Comer Homes Group's Mast Quay Phase II did neither. "The inspector's decision means that Comer Homes Group will at least have to pay the council a total of £7.82m to offset Mast Quay Phase II's impact on the local area, provide affordable housing, and improve the look and safety of the building. "These are real improvements that have only been won from taking tough action. "If action had not been taken, we would not have secured any of this mitigation, funding or the conditions that require changes to be made." Councillor Majid Rahman, cabinet member for planning, estate renewal and development, said: "Mast Quay Phase II, even with some external alterations, will remain a poor quality development that resembles stacked shipping containers and blights the landscape, local conservation area and protected views. "It is simply not acceptable for Woolwich. "When Comer Homes Group bought the site, it had the potential to deliver hundreds of beautiful riverside apartments in an exciting area of London with a rich maritime past. "If a scheme matching what has been built at Mast Quay Phase II was submitted for planning permission today, it would be refused, and that is why we could not let what the Comer Homes Group had delivered at Mast Quay Phase II go unchallenged." Councillor Rachel Taggart-Ryan, cabinet member for community safety and enforcement, said: "Thanks to our tough action we're pleased the inspector is forcing Comer Homes Group to make a huge number of modifications so that children will have a place to play, flats will be accessible for wheelchair users and the outside area will no longer be dominated by tarmac and cars instead of trees, grass and plants."
