Greenwich Council Approves Budget with Tax and Rent Increases
Greenwich Council has formally approved its budget for the 2026/27 financial year, implementing a significant council tax rise and social rent increase. The decision was made during a full council meeting at Woolwich Town Hall on February 26, sparking heated political debate.
Financial Measures and Political Clash
The approved budget includes a 4.99 percent council tax hike, meaning Band D households will pay an additional £1.85 per week starting in April. Alongside this, the council approved a 4.8 percent increase in social housing rents, bringing the average weekly rent for Greenwich council tenants to £118.35. Tenant service charges will also rise by 5.3 percent, equating to 93p extra per week.
Council Leader Anthony Okereke defended the Labour council's budget, stating it "protects the services residents rely on every day, supports children and families, and embraces new technology." He emphasized that tough decisions had been made over the past four years to maintain financial stability while protecting core values.
Adventure Play Centre Controversy
The budget meeting became particularly contentious over the planned transformation and potential closures of Adventure Play Centres (APCs). Conservative opposition leader Cllr Matt Hartley accused Labour members of laughing about the issue, claiming the council had shown "disrespect" to residents.
Hartley proposed amendments to restore the full APC budget temporarily, allowing time for new transformation proposals and a meaningful consultation. He criticized the previous consultation process as a "sham," noting that young users of Coldharbour Play Centre weren't consulted despite promises to do so.
Greenwich's Cabinet Member for Finance, Cllr Denise Hyland, rejected the accusation that Labour members were laughing about APCs, stating that councillors and officers had "worked so hard to transform the Adventure Play Centres and invest in a modern day youth service."
Budget Gap and Opposition Proposals
The council faces a forecasted £101 million budget gap, with £7.1 million in savings planned, primarily from a review of children's social care. Conservative proposals to address the gap included sharing backroom services with other boroughs, accelerating AI implementation, and being more entrepreneurial with commercial properties.
Council Leader Okereke dismissed the shared services proposal as "old ideas in a future world," citing concerns about losing control over IT systems based on discussions with Lewisham Council leadership. Hartley responded that this showed a "fundamental lack of ambition."
Political Exchange Over Funding
Hyland criticized previous Conservative governments for causing the budget gap through £150 million in cuts and failing to address structural underfunding of councils. Hartley countered that austerity was an "economic necessity" and placed blame on the current Labour government's Fair Funding Review.
The debate extended to policing, with Conservatives arguing for more police officers in Eltham and Labour attributing police funding shortages to Tory cuts. Cllr Rachel Taggart-Ryan praised council funding for additional CCTV across the borough, sharing a personal story about her mother's attack to emphasize the importance of surveillance.
The APC decision remains under further scrutiny, with the controversy highlighting deep political divisions over budget priorities and community services in Greenwich.
