measures to cut its debt to £122m at the start of the current financial year (2011-12), but that still drains around £4.3m in annual interest payments before a penny is spent CLICK ON: on public services. www.lbhf. gov.uk/ The council now councildebt expects to wipe another £12m off its longstanding debt by the end of this financial year m and says it is ‘on track’ to 0 6 halve its historic debt by 1 £ m April 2014. 0 7 H&F Council £1 m leader Cllr Stephen 0 £18 Greenhalgh said: “Nationally and £190m locally we have seen the dangers of £200m excessive debt and we are the only council in the country that is consistently cut– costing £9.5m a year in ting council tax and lowering the couninterest repayments. Since then, the cil’s debt. “Spending milauthority has worked hard with a range of efficiency lions of pounds on
£90m
m
r
6m £17
m
yea
4 200
l THE council has launched a new quarterly online ‘debtometer’ so that residents can keep a track of the progress made in reducing
£4.3
per
t Cos ou y to
£0m
o to y st ou
pe
£10m
Tod a
£122 y m C
5m £9.r year
£20m
0m
0m
£30
0m
0m
£4
m
£80
£7
£5
£100m £110m £120 m £13 £1 0m £1 40m 50 m
H&F debtometer council debt, coming down
£6
ents
NEWS>>
its debt. The amount owed by the authority has been falling steadily since its peak in 2004 when the council owed £176m
costly interest repayments just to stand still is a ticking timebomb if interest rates rise – as they must do at some stage. “Therefore our strategy has been to reduce the council’s historic debt so that taxpayers’ cash, which had been spent servicing interest costs, can be redirected to protect frontline services like caring for the vulnerable, child protection, street cleaning, more police, schools and parks. “Only by cutting debt can we secure the strong financial future that the borough deserves and this year’s progress means we are on track.” l To view the council debtometer visit: www.lbhf.gov. uk/councildebt
We are White Let’s talk City. TWENTY-ONE local residents have been chosen to sit on the first White City neighbourhood forum. The committee was created to give White City, Wormholt and Shepherds Bush a better voice when it deals with community issues. The forum was launched at a community convention in September at the White City Community Centre. Nominated to the forum were 14 representatives of local organisations. They were joined by seven local residents who were elected unopposed. Harry Audley, chairman of the White City Residents’ Association, said: “We expect to share information and resources to obtain maximum benefit, not just for the opportunities that are currently available to White City area but also ones that will be available in future.” H&F cabinet member Andrew Johnson welcomed the forum as a valuable ini-
tiative in delivering new opportunities to the area. He said: “I am looking forward to working with the new forum members to deliver their ambitions to unlock real opportunities for current and future residents of White City.” One of the forum’s tasks will be to decide how best to spend grant funding on improving the area, particularly Batman Close, the Cleverly estate, White City Close, the White City estate and
the Wormholt estate. The seven resident members of the forum are Niniola Adetuberu, Harry Audley, John GordonSmith, Susan Iwai, Hoss Malek, John Ryan and Junior Sterling. The 14 organisational members are Andrew Fullerton, Sheraz Khan, Linda Moll, Penny Asumang, Vince Hines, Joseph Jacobs, the Rev Ben Humphries, Sgt Jason Carrigan, Sohail Ayaz (pictured inset left), Andrea Lemard, Garry McMillan, Bob Still, Andy Sharpe. l For more details, visit: www.ourwhitecity.com
Sax player ‘Drumbago’ entertains. Left, Iona Wilson and Charlene Ralston
PICTUREs BY JON MIKOL
Your Hammersmith & Fulham Magazine
YOUR MAGS Page 41 debtometer NEWS.indd 1
41
20/10/2011 17:06:53