Local authorities should be allowed to use the full range of income raising powers to help fund services and improve their neighbourhoods and communities, a leading councillor urged today (29th June).

Leader of Westminster Council Colin Barrow urged ministers to grant councils new financial powers to set charges and generate funding as they see fit, free from Whitehall audits and inspections.

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Westminster Council has agreed ambitious plans to share a raft of key services with two of its neighbouring boroughs to deliver big savings for local taxpayers.

Council chiefs gave the green light to the business cases to integrate children’s services, environment services and adult social care with Hammersmith and Fulham and Kensington and Chelsea councils. They also agreed to combine their library services and parts of their corporate services.

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Westminster Council is set to consult with service users on the future of adult day services in the city.

Last night (Monday, 27th June) the council’s cabinet formally agreed to consult on a number of proposals that could see the reorganisation of how adult day services are provided.

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Paddington Children’s Library has reopened after a £30,000 revamp, council chiefs have announced.

As part of the three-week long revamp, new children’s self-service facilities have been fitted to enable children to check out their own books.

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Council chiefs have called on the government to add a raft of new freedoms to the Localism Bill.

Westminster, Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea and Wandsworth councils said they welcomed the bill but the coalition needed to give local government greater planning, housing and finance powers.

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