Council tax bills to rise

February 23, 2009

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COUNCIL tax is on the rise - and in many districts of Greater Manchester it is set to increase by more than the 3 per cent rate of inflation.

Despite the credit crunch, each of the region's ten town halls are set to up the tax.

After nine years of below inflation rises, taxpayers in Manchester will face a 3.46pc rise. That means Band D residents will pay £1,315.68 - an increase of about £44.

Council chiefs say the proposals would mean the city remain second cheapest in the region.

Finance spokesman Bernard Priest said the council was 'aware times were hard'. He said it had identified £25m of savings which enabled them 'to keep council tax low'

Band D payers in Oldham are still the hardest hit in Greater Manchester. If plans are agreed they will fork out £1,514 despite the town's increase of 2.5pc being the lowest in the region.

Council leader Howard Sykes promised the rise would remain at 2.5pc for the next three years.

He said it was 'unfair' to pass on large increases to residents.

Oldham is followed by Salford (3.4pc, £1,512) and Stockport (4.5pc, £1,505.71). The biggest planned hike comes in Trafford where council taxpayers will be hit by a 5.1pc increase.

That takes the average Band D householder from £1,209.83 to £1,270.47. Last year the rise was also above 5pc, the council tax there remains the cheapest in Greater Manchester.

There are plans for a 4.7pc increase in Bury, which would take Band D from £1,337.33 to £1,400.18.

Taxpayers in Bolton are facing a 4.2pc rise which council bosses blame on external costs.

They say electricity fees have risen by 70pc and have forced their hand. Band D costs there will go from £1,371.03 to £1,428.61.

Rochdale is planning a 4pc rise which will see Band D tax rise from £1,371.03 to £1,426.36.

In Wigan taxpayers can expect a hike of 2.58pc which will make Band D payments £1,342.

Tameside council refused to discuss their plans until they are rubber stamped next week.

They were the only authority to do so. It is thought town hall chiefs there are looking at a hike of 3.93pc.

All figures are subject to being given the green light and include fire and police precepts.

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boltongirl (23/02/2009 at 07:38)

"Taxpayers in Bolton are facing a 4.2pc rise which council bosses blame on external costs".

I take it the flagging around Farnworth Town Hall needs doing again!!!!!

Voter (23/02/2009 at 07:57)

Why a 4.2% rise in Bolton? I can tell you. Bolton town hall is full of people on non-jobs, imposing politically correctness. Councillors could start saving by scrapping the absurd "free newspaper", BOLTON SCENE, which is full of propaganda telling us how Bolton Council is the best in the universe. Yet the roads are full of potholes and the library, once one of the best in the country, is now a civic centre dedicated to multi-culturalism. I will never again vote Labour, Tory or Libdem; they have all let us down.

Ron, Gorton (23/02/2009 at 08:26)

Great, I don't much money at all. Have given up going to the match, given up the pub, struggle along and the council put up the council tax. Why not shed jobs like other people are doing to save money? Why not scarp the tarting up of teh Town Hall and St Peter's Square? Why not scrap stupid things like the Olympic homecoming which only attracted 24 memebers of public and cost £15,000? Why not get in touch with the man on the street who i sstruggling to put food on the table?

dessie, manchester (23/02/2009 at 08:44)

surprise surprise, in this time of hardship we get stung for a rise in council tax, soon it will be cheaper to go on the dole than work!!!

hjk (23/02/2009 at 09:38)

I'm sorry but this is un-acceptable. All accross the country cost saving measures are being implemented in an attempt to get through the credit crunch. Why should council's be any different?

Edina Clouds, GREAT Manchester (23/02/2009 at 09:55)

Well the money to pay for the failed Con charge bid has to come from somewhere!

Princess_Pam, Crumpsall (23/02/2009 at 11:09)

Well cuts should be made instead. Nothing should be given to the police for Party Political Conferences - let central government or the political party's pay themselves. And make their money subject to service. And turn off the lights on the town hall and other public buildings when they are not in use. And end expensive translation services which prevent people from integrating. And tell use how much are being spent each year on councillors allowances and expenses, we have a right to know as they work for us. And stop closing old peoples homes as it costs more in benefits to pay for them in private homes. And charge Londoners extra to use public transport as it costs us extra to use there's when we go to London (because we don't have Oyster Cards).

Ace Shakespeare , manchester (23/02/2009 at 12:14)

We all deserve the councils we vote for and manchester residents have voted for this lot for far to long?

andanotherthing, Mcr (23/02/2009 at 12:29)

You would think in the case of Manchester city Council, the same people in charge year in year out. That they would have become so efficient and effective, that they should be able to make cuts to the bill by now.

Ron, Gorton (23/02/2009 at 12:52)

Exactly, look at how much they wasted on the con charge bid with posters full of lies 'I want cheaper fares so will be voting yes'. Erm, what cheaper fares will that be then? Oh just for the 7% that qualify. So not cheaper farees all round then like the ad suggested?

And what about the councils taxi bill running into millions? What about the clean up from the Rangers game?

How do they expect me to pay this tax? I don't get any extra pay to pay for this, all my bills have gone up, bus fares have gone up. Where will I get the extar from?

The government have saddled us with debt for years.

Ace Shakespeare , manchester (23/02/2009 at 13:09)

Remember the rise in tax when they pull the B-OF-THE-BANG Down and say to yourself,you now know what idiots run our councils.

Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (23/02/2009 at 16:21)

Do they ever do anything else?

Well someones got to pay for the local governments cockups like believing the C charge was what everyone wanted despite most saying otherwise and spending a kings ransom trying to force it through.

Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (23/02/2009 at 16:30)

There area far too many people in this economic climate effectively taking a pay cut (no pay rises whilst cost of living still goes up = nett pay cut), whilst the councils expect a pay rise for their incompetence. If we have to pay for the failed con charge (not that we should) make it happen over several years not recuperate it in one year

Jay B, oldham (23/02/2009 at 17:06)

while we still pay our taxes be it council or income they'll continue wasting it!
we need to kick off a reveloution in taxes! we cannot take anymore! no wonder this country is in a mess!
the working public pay nearly half of their earning back while the lazy just take take take!

its time for a real change!

gladys rowbotham, Manchester (23/02/2009 at 18:17)

"Tameside council refused to discuss their plans until they are rubber stamped next week."

What does rubber stamped mean - I thought we lived in a democracy? Where is the debate?
Surely things don't get rubber-stamped in a democracy?

Angry Mike, Middleton (23/02/2009 at 19:37)

So let me get this right, economic downtown, bins getting emptied less, no grit for the roads when its freezing and these people think they can charge us more money.

Might not be so bad if it wasn't for hearing on a weekly basis about various MP's who claim benefit after benefit, on top of there £100 thousand+ a yr jobs.

We need a change in leadership in this country

Pete Onion, manchester (23/02/2009 at 22:39)

These councils are all a joke that are run by buffoons that are out of touch with the real world..

the more i read and see about these things makes me reaqlly wonder about going into local politics myself to bring some realism back to these idiots.

A bunch of snow monkeys would do a better job.

Ace Shakespeare , manchester (24/02/2009 at 16:15)

Angry Mike, Middleton
Dont forget these councils dont have to repair all those rundown properties they had or employ all those workers at direct works ect.so where is all the money going??could it be to the leaders and all the other hanger ons with massive incomes.and thos so called specialistes who check things out like the congestion charge and charge us millions to tell us what we already know....fire the TOP EARNERS of MCC.

Just wondering, Manchester (24/02/2009 at 16:30)

We should be getting a reduction!!
We're all quietly getting a reduction in our fire cover!
First it was just at night time, then weekends.
It's very soon going to be seven days (& nights) a week!!!
Lets hope we don't need a fire engine.

Princess_Pam, Crumpsall (25/02/2009 at 09:03)

A few years ago, I was invited into the councillors dining room at the town hall. Whilst there I was invited to get one of the free cups of tea or coffee that was available. There were about 10 different types of tea and several different types of coffee. It's things like this that are a waste of taxpayers money. For a start, why is it free to councillors and their guests? And why so many choices? It may sound trivial but if there is waste here, how much waste is there elsewhere.

red one (25/02/2009 at 17:43)

I live in the Stockport area and after dealing with the offices there I am amazed at the lack of customer relations. Their attitude is that of a employer and the public are there employees. Its about time they realised that we pay their ridiculas salaries. In future I will not contact them other than by their complaints procedure. Should anybody need the online address it is:- www.stockport.gov.uk/content/councildemoc/council/contacts/complaintsaboutservices/corporatecomplaints/complaintsprocedure/?a=5441
Don't expect any sensible reply but keep on sending until you do. I did not receive the annual supply of waste sacks, which we are all entitled to as we have paid for them in our council tax. It took 10 emails and a 10 day investigation as to why I had not received the sacks! If these people worked in industry they would be out of a job pretty quick as they would not be allowed to hide behind silly bureaucratic rules. Waste of our money the lot of them.

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