Ismael, Raul, Emil, Laura and Pharon in St John’s Wood Library #MySt John’s Wood #MyWestminster What’s your #MyWestminster Lowest Band D Council Tax in the country How to contact More information inside the council and get value for money from local services 2018 – 2019 02 Dear resident #MyWestminster 03 By working hard to make your money go further, I am pleased to report that Westminster has once again set the lowest Band D Council Tax in the country for 2018/19. A low Council Tax means we help and support those on lower and fixed incomes whose finances may be under most pressure from increases in household expenses. How to contact the council More information is included in this booklet on how your Council Tax is calculated and how it supports the local services that are most important to you. You may have heard about our new voluntary Community Contribution Scheme. We’re introducing this because some residents in higher value properties have asked us if they can pay more to support local services. It will provide a way for people who want, and are able, to make a voluntary contribution to support additional local services. You can find out more about the scheme online atwestminster.gov.uk/mywestminster Some have asked why we haven’t just raised Council Tax. National legislation dictates that if a local authority plans to raise Council Tax it has to be across all Bands, which means everyone would have to pay more and we believe it is our duty to protect those on the lowest incomes. That’s why we have kept Band D the lowest in the country since 2013/14. Take pride in our vibrant and diverse city at our annual More information is included in this booklet on how your Council Tax is calculated and how it supports the local services that are most important to you celebration of Westminster’s neighbourhoods. I am determined that Westminster is a place where everyone has a chance to #MyWestminster Day Come along to this free succeed, not just the fortunate few. Truly a City for All. Sunday 1st July 2018 community day and enjoy: 11am – 3pm • free food from across the world Paddington Recreation Ground, • live music from the Pad Rec Maida Vale, W9 1PD bandstand • dance Hosted by Cllr Nickie Aiken, • face painting Leader of Westminster City Council • sports activities • inflatables Find out more and register • family activities your interest in attending at • arts and crafts westminster.gov.uk/ • activity zone mywestminster#MWD Plus lots more. Cllr Nickie Aiken Leader of Westminster City Council 04 Your Council Tax bill 2018/19 Where your money goes 05 Band WCC GLA Total The Council Tax you pay is a key part of making Westminster a City for All. We represent the whole of the community and we A £277.51 £196.15 £473.66 spend your money, not our money on services for everyone. B £323.77 £228.85 £552.62 C £370.02 £261.54 £631.56 Highest rated by the Social Mobility Delivering 1,850 affordable homes Commission for our work to create by 2023, including council D £416.27 £294.23 £710.50 760 opportunities and employment homes for social rent so families How to contact the council E £508.77 £359.61 £868.38 can lay down their foundations F £601.28 £425.00 £1026.28 Over 6,300 children taking part in #MyWestminster City Lions the Forest Schools programme, £100,000 programme to give G £693.78 £490.38 £1184.16 becoming the green ambassadors 13–16 year olds access to great H £832.54 £588.46 £1421.00 of the future unrivaled opportunities Supporting over 700 people into Flagship redevelopment of work through the Westminster Moberly Sports Centre providing Employment Service state-of-the-art sporting facilities north of the borough Your Council Tax bill if you live in Queen’s Park #MyWestminster Fund community In 2018/19 we will spend £871.3m led investment of £500,000 for on council run services For the residents of Queen’s Park ward an additional precept is applied voluntary organisations for the Queen’s Park Community Council, created in April 2014. Find out more at westminster.gov.uk/queens-park-community-council The Old Marylebone Town Hall reopened after a major £800,000 Band WCC GLA QPCC precept Total refurbishment and is once again A £277.51 £196.15 £30.92 £504.58 hosting marriages, civil partnerships and citizenship ceremonies B £323.77 £228.85 £36.07 £588.69 C £370.02 £261.54 £41.23 £672.79 D £416.27 £294.23 £46.38 £756.88 E £508.77 £359.61 £56.69 £925.07 F £601.28 £425.00 £66.99 £1093.27 G £693.78 £490.38 £77.30 £1261.46 H £832.54 £588.46 £92.76 £1513.76 Welcome to Westminster For more information about your Council Tax visit westminster.gov.uk/council-tax 06 Council services anytime, anywhere We are constantly working to upgrade our online services, making it quicker and easier than ever before to contact the council and find the answers to any questions on our website. Visit westminster.gov.uk to: Apply for a Westminster City Submit and check a planning Save card to receive exclusive application How to contact the council discounts and offers Apply for a temporary Find and contact your event notice local Councillor Order recycling bags Set up a direct debit to pay your or a box council tax Find your nearest leisure centre, library or community hub Help us solve issues faster – Report It! The #MyWestminster Fund is part of the council’s #MyWestminster programme which supports local projects. Keeping Westminster’s streets clean and safe is a priority to us. If you see or experience a problem, reporting it online helps us resolve the issue as quickly as possible. The fund is open to all voluntary There will be four rounds of bidding organisations, resident, faith and over a two-year period. All bids will Use westminster.gov.uk/report-it to let us know about issues related to: community groups within the be considered by officers from the borough. This includes schools and council with final decisions on funding Abandoned waste Noise other establishments which care for will be decided by a Member Board. Westminster residents. For more information and advice on Street cleaning Damage to the road All individual applications must be for the fund email mywestminsterfund@ under £10,000. westminster.gov.uk Dog fouling Illegal parking and more Your project must support one of Graffiti these themes: • community leadership and cohesion • pride in vibrant, mixed Set up your personal MyWestminster online account to: neighbourhoods • air quality and the environment Track the progress of Save time by pre-filling forms with your requests the details from your account • young people • benefit large areas or the whole city Make a selection of Visit myaccount.westminster.gov.uk miscellaneous payments 08 Westminster launches first ever Your council 09 voluntary Community Contribution (A – Z) Westminster is a great place to live, but there are huge challenges for some. That is why some residents in the highest Council Tax band Find out more about the services you asked how they could contribute more to community projects in receive through your Council Tax. Westminster. In response, the council has launched the Westminster 10 Adult services Community Contribution Scheme. How to contact the council 10 Armed forces community Council Tax payers in Band H are being protecting the incomes of residents 10 Business unit invited to make a voluntary contribution whose finances are under most pressure. to The City of Westminster Charitable 10 Business rates Trust, a registered charity, to enable it Cllr Nickie Aiken, Leader, said: “Some 10 Children’s services to support additional local services. have asked why we haven’t just raised Council Tax. National legislation dictates 12 City promotions, events So many people have already shown that if a local authority plans to raise and filming support for the scheme, with some Council Tax it has to be across all Bands, already sending contributions of up which means everyone would have to 12 Council tax to £2,000. The council is suggesting a pay more and we believe it is our duty 14 Cycling contribution of £833 – or just £69 a to protect those on the lowest incomes. month – to match the City Council That’s why we have kept Band D the 14 Data protection and element of Council Tax for Band H lowest in the country since 2013/14. freedom of information properties this year. However, this is The voluntary Westminster Community 14 Electoral services just a suggestion and the amount is up Contribution is a great way for those to those who wish to contribute to this who want, and are able, to make a real 14 Employment completely voluntary scheme. difference to people in our community 14 Health with the greatest need.” By working hard to make local tax 15 Housing payers’ money go further, Westminster For further information visit 15 Housing benefit and has once again set the lowest Band D westminster.gov.uk/mywestminster council tax support Council Tax in the country for 2018/19, 16 Libraries 16 Parking 18 Planning and licensing 18 Registrars 18 Recycling, streets and environmental health Lael, 18 Sexual and domestic Registrar at abuse helpline The Old Marylebone Town Hall 20 Sports and leisure #MyMarylebone #MyWestminster 20 Volunteering What’s your #MyWestminster 10 Adult services Armed forces peoplefirstinfo.org.uk community westminster.gov.uk/adult-services westminster.gov.uk/armed-forces 020 7641 2500 PAY COUNCIL TAX • Adult care services or concerns about an adult Business unit How to contact the council • Information and advice businesswestminster.com • Support to maintain health and 020 7641 2070 BY DIRECT DEBIT well-being Bespoke information, advice and • Support to stay at home guidance for Westminster businesses.