Ealing residents will have their council tax bills frozen again following the decision by Ealing Council to deliver a zero per cent increase for the second year running.

A £70 million investment programme to deliver more primary school places, regenerating public areas and fighting crime was agreed by Ealing Council.

The programme includes:

• £31.8 million to create additional primary school places.
• £12 million for the Acton Town Hall regeneration project.
• £6.5 million to improve roads and pavements.
• £5 million towards restoration of Gunnersbury Park.
• £4.2 million of housing improvement grants to for vulnerable residents.
• £2.3 million to improve parks and open spaces.
• £1.5 million to restore and refurbish both Greenford Hall and Southall Manor House.
• £1.5 million to boost some of the borough’s smaller shopping areas.
• £1 million for alley gating and CCTV crime-fighting initiatives.

Council Leader, Councillor Jason Stacey, said: "I'm delighted that in these tough economic times we've been able to freeze council tax for the second year running, while still investing in major improvements."

"We've saved millions of pounds by making our services run more efficiently and the approach is making a huge difference to Ealing residents."

Last year the borough gave £50 cash back to council tax paying households.