£2.6 million investment package for adult social care as Westminster City Council approves new budget plans.
Westminster City Council has approved a £2.6 million investment package aimed at improving adult social care, ensuring that hundreds of residents will no longer have to pay for care while boosting wages for care assistants. This investment forms a key part of the council’s Fairer Westminster delivery plan, a new three-year strategy designed to enhance local services, create opportunities, and support the most vulnerable members of the community.
The budget, passed at a Full Council meeting, includes £1.4 million specifically allocated to increasing the pay of personal care assistants. More than 400 carers who support Westminster residents through direct payments will now receive a higher wage, making the profession more competitive and attracting more high-quality carers to the sector. Individuals who receive direct payments will see their funding increase, allowing them to offer an additional £1.50 to £2.00 per hour to personal assistants.
Another £1.2 million has been earmarked to raise the threshold at which people begin paying for social care. This change will provide financial relief to more than 460 residents under the age of 65, allowing them to retain more of their income before contributing to care costs. The move ensures that social care contributions are fair and consistent across all age groups.
Westminster resident Colin, who has been receiving direct payments since he graduated from university at 21, welcomed the investment. Now 59, he said the additional funding would make it easier to attract and retain quality carers.
“Direct payments have allowed me to live independently and manage my care on my own terms. However, many disabled people struggle to recruit skilled social care workers due to low wages. With this funding increase, I hope we can compete with jobs in other industries like retail and hospitality, which typically offer higher wages. This could also encourage young people to consider social care as a respectable and ethical career path.”
The approval of the budget coincides with the launch of the Fairer Westminster delivery plan, which sets out the council’s vision for the future. Shaped by the needs and voices of the local community, the plan is focused on delivering effective, high-value services that benefit all residents.
Beyond adult social care, the new budget includes significant investment across multiple areas. The council is allocating £1.2 million to tackle rough sleeping, aiming to help more people transition from the streets into stable housing. An additional £140 million is being invested in expanding temporary accommodation, providing much-needed relief to Westminster’s housing waiting list.
As part of efforts to support residents through the cost-of-living crisis, the council is committing £1 million to long-term solutions, such as free school meals during holidays, supermarket food vouchers, and financial hardship support.
The high streets of Paddington and Bayswater will also see a transformation, with £10 million set aside to boost local businesses and create more dynamic shopping and community spaces. Meanwhile, investment in community hubs continues, with the Ernest Harris House set to open this spring and a new Pimlico Community Hub planned for 2026.
To enhance public safety, the council is committing £2 million to anti-social behaviour prevention and city management. This includes recruiting eight new City Inspectors and doubling the number of CCTV cameras across Westminster, with 40 additional cameras installed in the West End.
Despite the substantial investment across multiple sectors, Westminster residents will see only a modest Council Tax increase of 48p per week for a Band D property. Even with the 4.99% rise, Westminster remains one of the areas with the lowest Council Tax rates in the country.
Council Leader Adam Hug said the budget reflected the council’s commitment to creating a Fairer Westminster by addressing key challenges around housing, social care, and public safety.
“Rising costs impact us all, and I am proud that we have been able to remove social care costs for hundreds of residents while ensuring carers receive fairer pay. This budget provides security in three major ways: ensuring people have a safe home, keeping our streets safe, and reinforcing the social safety net for those who need it most. Our goal is to make Westminster a fairer, more supportive place for everyone.”
The budget also lays out the financial framework for managing more than 20,000 local authority properties under the Housing Revenue Account, with a total capital investment of £916 million over the next five years and £2.5 billion over the next 30 years.
Overall, the council’s capital strategy outlines a £2.5 billion investment plan through 2039, partially offset by nearly £1.2 billion in income, resulting in a net budget of £1.3 billion.
Despite the scale of investment, the council is committed to financial sustainability, with £30 million in new savings identified through efficiency improvements, contract optimisations, and transitioning to a fully electric waste and cleaning fleet.
With these ambitious plans now set in motion, Westminster City Council is poised to deliver meaningful improvements in social care, housing, public safety, and community development—ensuring the city remains a vibrant and inclusive place for all its residents.
