2 March 2007, 07/77
Lower than inflation increase in West Lancs Council
Tax
West Lancashire District Council has announced a Council Tax rise
of just 3.6% - below the current retail price inflation of 4.2% -
and an increase of just £6.05 a year for the Government average
Band D property.
Councillor Adrian Owens, Portfolio Holder for Finance, said: "I am
delighted to announce that we have pegged the Council Tax rise to
an affordable, sensible level, lower than the rate of inflation and
the same as the increase in pensions. I can promise local residents
that they will certainly continue to get value for money from our
Council. We are making improvements in efficiency as well as
providing better services for the residents of West
Lancashire."
"Despite the minimum grant increase possible from the Government we
have achieved one of the lowest increases in Lancashire by
squeezing savings across a wide range of our work. Thanks to this
efficiency, we are also able to make improvements in
services."
Budget headlines
· Council Tax rise of 3.6% - the same as the pensioners increase,
lower than the level of inflation; lower than the national average;
lower than the Police and Fire authorities and the County Council;
and one of the lowest in Lancashire.
· Additional spending on recycling
· £50,000 extra for the voluntary sector
· Additional 4 Police Community Support Officers
· A new urban Park Ranger
· Further investment in sport
· An additional Planning Enforcement Officer
· Newly established £21,000 tourism budget
· £27,000 for a new kerbside recycling vehicle
· Investment in Skelmersdale town centre
· Investment in new offices in Ormskirk
· Improved children's play areas
· Improvements to the Council's commercial portfolio
· £460,000 additional frontline service growth
· Over £200,000 growth in planning and other services to support
frontline services
· £299,000 for additional recycling for glass, cans, plastics,
fabrics and cardboard
· No increases in car park charges for the sixth year in a
row
· Retention of travel tokens and rail cards as public transport
alternatives
How we achieved it
Unlike our neighbours there are no significant cuts in this budget.
Through improvements in efficiency and attracting external income
we have been able to provide increased levels of services in the
areas listed above whilst requiring a below inflation Council Tax
increase.
The figures
The Government regards Band D as the 'average property' type.
However in the West Lancs District the majority of properties are
Band A, B and C - so the 'average' Council Tax payer in West Lancs
will face an increase of less than £5 a year - just over 1 penny
per day - for District Council services.
The increase means that the Band D Council Tax bill in West Lancs
will be £174.12 a year from 1 April 2007. When the new bills go
out, however, the total figure will also include the bills from
Lancashire County Council, the Police, Fire and, in some areas, the
Parish Council. The total bill before parish precepts will amount
to £1,403.71.
Council Tax increases for Band D
properties
| |
2006/7 |
2007/8 |
Increase
£
|
Increase
%
|
| West Lancashire DC |
£168.07 |
£174.12 |
£6.05 |
3.6% |
| Lancashire CC |
£996.85 |
£1046.20 |
£49.35 |
4.95% |
| Lancashire Police |
£113.09 |
£125.95 |
£12.86 |
11.37% |
| Lancashire Fire |
£54.71 |
£57.44 |
£2.73 |
4.99% |
| Total |
£1332.72 |
£1403.71 |
£70.99 |
5.33% |
Related
information
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