Message from Councillor Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council
Your council is committed to supporting everyone that lives and works in Brent.
In Brent, we face a constant balancing act between the many challenges we face. The council’s income is received through various sources including council tax, business rates, fees and charges, and Government grants.
Like many local authorities, the council has faced increasing financial pressures for more than a decade due to central Government funding cuts and rising demand for services.
The council has successfully balanced our budget over the years – saving around £200million.
However, as you will have noticed with your own personal finances, rapidly rising inflation means the pound in your pocket is not buying as much. The council is also affected by sky high inflation, which is driving up the cost of goods, services, supplies and running buildings too, putting the council’s budget under more pressure than ever.
Finding more savings is incredibly difficult. Despite the challenges, your council will always be committed to supporting everyone that lives and works in Brent.
We will continue to prioritise the most vulnerable in our community and protect the essential services people depend on as much as possible.
To do this, along with most local authorities across the country, we have made the difficult decision to increase Council Tax by 4.99%. Along with the Mayor of London’s increase, your bill will rise by 6%.
This is not a decision the council has taken lightly, especially as we know how stretched people’s budgets are. That is why we are reinforcing the safety net for those most in need. If you are struggling with your bills or paying for essentials, and meet the eligibility criteria, you can get help through our Council Tax Support Scheme and Resident Support Fund.
Find out more on our Cost of Living support pages
Brent Council exists to serve you, our residents, and we will work tirelessly to build a better Brent with a brighter future.