'Hit-squad' to tackle fly-tipping in Ealing

Ealing Council will invest £510,000 to fund the introduction of "tidy teams" to crack down on fly-tipping.

It also said it planned to deploy 50 remote CCTV cameras to tackle antisocial behaviour across its seven towns, which it said would cost £860,000.

Alongside tidy teams the council will allocate £540,000 to piloting a new household recycling service. This will include a timetable of touring "mega skips" in a bid to minimise waste going to landfill.

Leader of the Labour-run council Peter Mason said: "Residents tell us they want a borough that is safe, clean and fair. The council is listening and this budget supports that vision."

Mr Mason added: "We are investing in keeping streets clean, tackling antisocial behaviour and giving young people things to do."

Supporting the new CCTV camera network will be a uniformed street enforcement team which will work "as an active and visible deterrent to crime and antisocial behaviour", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Plans are under way to invest £200,000 in street-lighting enhancements to improve resident safety. The council also says it will increase activity in tackling unregistered HMOs and abandoned cars.

The budget also outlines plans to improve Ealing's parks, open spaces and activities for young people. This includes £1.6m to refurbish playgrounds, as well as new flood lighting for play spaces – allowing them to stay open later in autumn.

Residents of Ealing borough can expect to see a 4.99% increase in council tax.

Band A properties will face an increase of £51.58 a year with a new annual total of £1,085.34 a year.

Under the proposals, Band B properties would pay £1,266.24 – an increase of £60.18 a year. Band C properties will see an increase of £68.78 a year to £1,447.13. For those living in a Band D property, once approved by full council, council tax will increase by £77.38 a year to £1,628.02. Band E homes will see an increase of £94.57 to £1,989.79 a year.

Band F properties will face an increase of £111.77 a year with a new annual total of £2,351.58. Band G properties would pay £2,713.36 – an increase of £128.96 a year. Band H homes will see an increase of £154.75 to £3,256.03 a year.

Councillor Steve Donnelly said: "We are only able to make these proposals for investment because we have run an efficient council year after year. Council tax will rise by 2.99% with the extra 2% social care surcharge as well."

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