Hammersmith and Fulham Council, a Labour-run borough in west London, warns it may need to raise council tax by as much as 150% to maintain existing services. The council’s finance report says this would be the UK’s biggest ever council tax rise and estimates the impact on Band D households at an additional £29.11 per week in 2027/28 if the level is reached.
The warning is linked to what the council describes as “the biggest financial challenge in living memory,” with central government funding reductions and a new funding settlement leaving the borough with fewer resources. The Evening Standard and The Guardian report the council cabinet has reached this conclusion ahead of a report due to be published, while The Independent also frames the issue as part of broader pressures facing London boroughs, noting similar warnings from other authorities.
While outlets focus on different aspects—such as the headline scale of the proposal or the wider pattern of London councils warning about potential increases—each source attributes the prospect to government funding cuts and the resulting financial gap for delivering current services.
