The Cabinet of Hammersmith & Fulham Council met on Tuesday 1 April 2025, approving new guidance for calculating carbon offset costs for developers and reviewing the council's revenue budget for the 2024/25 financial year. The meeting also noted the forward plan of key decisions.

Carbon Offset Cost Guidance Note

The Cabinet approved new guidance for calculating carbon offset costs on development sites, which will come into effect from 1 July 2025. This guidance aims to encourage developers to incorporate more on-site carbon reduction measures in their projects. Councillor Andrew Jones, Cabinet Member for the Economy, introduced the report, highlighting that the note would assist planners and developers in this calculation. Councillor Wesley Harcourt, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Ecology, stated that this was a key element of the Council's plan to combat climate change and expressed hope that it would lead to the construction of more energy-efficient buildings.

Revenue Budget Review 2024/25 - Month 9

The Cabinet reviewed the council's provisional outturn position for the 2024/25 financial year at Month 9 (December 2024). Councillor Rowan Ree, Cabinet Member for Finance and Reform, reported that the forecast General Fund overspend had reduced to £1.1 million and was expected to decrease further. He confirmed that both the General Fund and the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budgets were forecast to be balanced by the end of the year, despite a challenging fiscal environment. Councillor Adronie Alford, Opposition Spokesperson for Housing, welcomed the news regarding the HRA budget. Councillor Stephen Cowan, Leader of the Council, praised Councillor Ree and the finance officers for their financial management, which he stated allowed Hammersmith & Fulham to provide services such as free Home Care and free school breakfasts while maintaining the third-lowest council tax in the country.

The Cabinet agreed to delegate authority to the Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Services, in consultation with Councillor Ree, to make necessary decisions for closing the final accounts. They also noted the General Fund financial forecast variance and mitigating actions, progress on delivering budget savings, the HRA forecast, and approved budget movements.

Forward Plan of Key Decisions

The Forward Plan of Key Decisions was noted by the Cabinet. This plan outlines upcoming key decisions that the Cabinet will be making.