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Outlook for 200701-Jan-07 A message from the chairman Well it looks like we're in for yet another inflation-busting tax rise in 2007 (currently set for 4.9% plus whatever the GLA can get out of us - 5.3% has been strongly rumoured). This may seem like a tradition in Harrow, but there are very real why this is happening. Harrow has had a new administration since the May elections, and it may look like nothing's changed. However, the new lot are still working on a budget and commitments set by the previous administration . At the heart of the immediate problem is the fact that the Council specified several million pounds worth of savings that would be made in 2006, without saying what they'd be. This allowed them to set a modest tax rise in 2006, but has left the incoming administration trying to make up the deficit because, as may have been predicted, not much was actually saved. The old administration is currently arguing about the precise size of the hole in the Council's finances, and whether financial officers should or shouldn't have stopped them, but this achieves nothing. We're stuck with the situation as it is, and have to work though it. However, it would be reasonable to ask why Harrow's tax bill has been rising steadily. Is it just an inefficiently run council? Whilst there are doubtless many improvements that can and should be made, this is going to take some time to filter through. In the mean time we're should be considering the Central Government grant. The Council's money comes from two sources. About a quarter comes from the Council Tax; the remainder comes from our Government Grant. This isn't a handout. It's our tax money, business rates and suchlike, which is handed to Westminster, mixed with everyone else's cash, and handed back "according to need". It'll come as no surprised that Harrow gets a raw deal. In fact Harrow is getting the lowest government grant per head of population than any other borough in London. If the residents of Harrow were getting the average grant for the whole of London it'd knock about £860/year off the average Council Tax bill. That's right - we're paying £860 a year more Council Tax a year to make up for our below-average grant. HCTC has therefore been campaigning in 2006 for Harrow to receive its fair share of grant money. The previous administration was also perusing this; the current administration has sent a delegation to Whitehall. Our MPs say they have been working on it in between sorting out the home office and other ministerial duties. But we're still not getting our fair share. Then there's the the annual raid from Ken Livingstone to worry about. Council Tax rises have now been capped (having more than doubled since 1997) but the GLA can, and does, raise as much as it wants from us. Has anyone noticed GLA funded services improving? Transport getting better? Crime dropping? Crime official crime figures might have dropped (apart from violent crime) but this may be more to do with the difficulty in reporting it and the complete disinterest of the police if you do perceiver. So our goals for 2007 are threefold:
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