Council and democracy

High Street ward petition

Earlier in the month we announced that the Office of National Statistics (ONS) had alerted us to a possible error in the counting of the votes for the High Street ward election held on 6 May.

A petition has now been made to the High Court by Mahmood Hussain, who is seeking a recount.

» More on High Street Ward petition

Housing benefit, local housing allowance, council tax benefit and second adult rebate

If you are on a low income or receive certain state benefits, you may be entitled to housing benefit or local housing allowance (help with your rent) and/or council tax benefit (help with your council tax).

There is also Alternative Council Tax Benefit ("Second Adult Rebate") which you can claim regardless of how much you earn, if you have someone living with you who is on a low income or gets certain state benefits.

From April 2008, Local Housing Allowance (LHA) replaced Housing Benefit to help with the cost of rent for new claims from some private tenants.

» More about the Local Housing Allowance

» More about benefits

» Make a claim online for Housing Benefit, LHA, Council Tax Benefit or Second Adult Rebate

» Important information about how selling your home and renting it back may affect your housing benefit/LHA entitlement

Council tax

Find out more about council tax, how much it is, how to pay it, and when you can pay less:

» View council tax levels for 2009/10

» Set up a direct debit to pay your council tax automatically each month and find out the advantages of paying by direct debit including spreading your payments over 2 extra months in 2009

» Make an online payment by credit or debit card -

» View your recent bills and payments

» Find out about discounts, exemptions, and reductions

» Find out about council tax benefit and second adult rebate

» More about Council Tax

Waltham Forest: Our Place in London

Waltham Forest is getting ready for one of the most exciting and challenging chapters in its history – and you could help decide what our borough should look like in 20 years.

We want you to have your say in the biggest discussion ever held about the future of Waltham Forest.

» More on Our Place in London

Councillors and council meetings

Reports for council meetings are now available online, along with agendas, minutes, and key decisions. There is also more information about councillors, and you can view the council diary.

» More about councillors and council meetings

Community engagement

The Community Engagement Unit works closely with council departments and external partners to ensure high quality engagement with residents and stakeholders whose opinions and concerns are used to help inform decision making and improve local services.

» More about Community Engagement

» More about Community Councils

Overview and Scrutiny

Overview and Scrutiny Committees and Sub-Committees oversee executive decisions to ensure that they are practical, fair and being made in the best interest of the community. Overview & Scrutiny Committees and Sub-Committees can put forward their own ideas for improvements and influence the decisions being made. The committees are primarily concerned with the wider issues of Council policies, practices and procedures and do not take on board individual complaints - for this please refer to the Council complaints procedure.

» More about Overview and Scrutiny

» More about Council Complaints Procedure