RBKC Direct

Issue 02: February 2004

Issue 02 of RBKC Direct brings you up-to-date with the issues affecting your Council Tax in 2004/5, and outlines the Council's priorities for the coming year. It also looks in brief at new developments for the Congestion Charging Scheme, plus the latest news on the Chelsea-Hackney Line and Recycling in the borough.

Issue 02 also includes some of your comments on the stories covered in Issue 01. After a phenomenal local response to the issue, it features just some of your feedback on congesting charging.

We will will continue to include your comments and feedback in future editions and on the website. You can help us to improve RBKC Direct by letting us know what issues interest you. Click Tell Us About Yourself, and complete the online form.

Budget Special: your Council's finances explained

The Royal Borough will receive an extra £5.2 million from central Government this year. At four per cent this is the lowest increase in percentage terms for any London borough. The Government has directed that, £3.4 million must go directly to schools, although school costs are only 25 per cent of the borough's expenditure. That leaves just £1.8 million to cope with inflation and spending pressures that are expected to add £8.4 million to Council costs. These pressures include changes in licensing of pubs and clubs, adoption, schools admissions and landfill taxes. What will this mean for your Council Tax? Can you influence these debates?

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A better city life

Well-resourced schools delivering high educational standards, a new school in Chelsea, more residential and day care facilities for older people, and major improvements to South Kensington and Sloane Square all remain at the heart of the Council's vision for a better city life. Here we take a look at that vision, and how it could be affected by the financial outlook for the Council.

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Issue 01 Update

Congestion Charging - what is the cost A look at how local residents and the Council have raised their concerns about the Mayor of London's plans to extend the Congestion Charge Scheme, along with your feedback. Plus more about renewed media interest in the Chelsea-Hackney Line and the hurdles that still need to be tackled before that project can progress. And finally an insight into what the landfill tax will cost if reducing, recycling and reusing waste cannot be increased in the borough.