Councillors in Barking and Dagenham have agreed the budget for the next financial year – pledging extra money for the most vulnerable residents and protecting key services in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The decision was made at a full council meeting, held online, last night (Wednesday 3 March) where there will be no cuts to council services. 

Barking and Dagenham Council plans to spend £174million across all its services including schools, housing, highways and bin collections.

Included in the budget is a 4.99 per cent increase in council tax – 3 per cent ringfenced for spending on adult social care and 1.99 per cent to go towards supporting other services – amounting to an extra £1.23 per week for the average band D property.

The council estimates the cost of responding to the coronavirus pandemic over the last year exceeds £55m, which even with government grants still left an £11m shortfall to fill.

The last year has been unprecedented and throughout it all, we’ve supported our residents and businesses, making sure they’ve been given the help they need. 

Councillor Dominic Twomey, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance and Core Services said: “The impact on the community of COVID-19 has resulted in financial pressures to the council that will have implications for years to come.

“I don’t think anyone could have foreseen the year we have all just had, however fortunately due to our sensible financial management, we have been able to use our savings to lessen this impact on residents and find ourselves in a better position than many other councils across the country.

As part of the budget, the council plans to spend more on supporting people living with severe and complex disabilities in the borough and children who have significant special educational needs.

Residents are at the heart of every decision we make, and we will continue to do everything in our power to secure a brighter future for all our residents.

Cllr Twomey added: “The last year has been unprecedented and throughout it all, we’ve supported our residents and businesses, making sure they’ve been given the help they need. 

“This year’s budget is different because we have had £55m additional costs as part of our response to COVID-19 which will take years to recover. And this is off the back of 10 years of austerity funding for councils like ours who deliver vital local services.

“But we have a clear message for residents: we’re not just in it for the good times. We stand by you in the bad times, too. And we are a borough that responds in a crisis.

“We’ve worked with our local voluntary sector and faith organisations throughout the pandemic, delivering food, medicine, and support to over 2,000 of our most vulnerable residents, and providing a quarter of a million free schools meals, In addition, we’ve supported 6,000 households through our community food clubs and secured 10 million pieces of life-saving PPE for care providers and other frontline services. 

“Looking ahead, we have really exciting plans for the future that include a film studio, the three iconic markets of London - Billingsgate, New Spitalfields and Smithfield – coming to our borough and we’re doing everything we can to support the local economy. 

“What’s more, we’re also the biggest council housebuilder in London with one fifth of all new affordable homes across London being built right here, in Barking and Dagenham. We’re on track to build 3,000 new homes by 2024, with 75% being affordable and I’m really pleased to say that one third of these homes will be for families on our housing waiting list.

“Residents are at the heart of every decision we make, and as we celebrate 100 years of the iconic Becontree Estate, the biggest council estate in the UK, we will continue to do everything in our power to secure a brighter future for all our residents.”

The budget also outlined the council’s plan to spend over £3.5m on resurfacing and reconstructing the borough’s footways and carriageways as well as splash £150,000 on improving the lakes at Valence Park, Mayesbrook Park and Eastbrookend Country Park.