Now council tax bill is area's biggest

by Katie Fitzpatrick

March 03, 2010

| Submit Comments | Comments (6) | Previous | Next

Rochdale's council tax rise is now the highest in Greater Manchester.

The overall level of council tax increase was set at 3.96 per cent last week when taking into account fire service and police demands.

At the time it was thought to be the second highest hike in the region, behind Bury. But the neighbouring authority then agreed to 3.75 per cent rise.

Councillor Ashley Dearnley, Conservative group leader for Rochdale, believes Rochdale could also have the highest council tax rise in the country.

He said: "The average rise for the country is 1.9 per cent so I don't think there will be a council percentage higher than ours. The last time there was a reduction it was when the council was Conservative led 25 years ago. I think it is appalling that we are in this situation because there are people who live in Rochdale with low wages and council staff aren't getting an increase in their wage this year. To have council tax so high with poor service compared to other authorities is totally unacceptable."

Councillor Dearnley, who called for an alternative council tax increase of 2.9 per cent as well as the scrapping of the council's Local Matters magazine and a reduction in the media and communications team, added: "People are being ripped off for unnecessary services but we are closing accommodation for the elderly. The public will be up in arms about this and rightly so."

Labour group leader Councillor Colin Lambert said: "The current administration, it would seem, are proud of imposing the highest council tax rise in Greater Manchester while delivering the poorest service. If they insist on a very high council tax it should be invested in services people want. When they say they are listening, they are listening with deaf ears."

The average rise for British taxpayers is 1.8 per cent, according to a report from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). The north west average is 1.7 per cent.

CIPFA could not confirm if Rochdale has the highest council tax increase in the country as we went to press.

Lib Dem finance portfolio holder Councillor Greg Couzens told last week's meeting the budget makes the financial position of the borough more sustainable over the long term.

He said other local authorities were setting a lower council tax increase as an election stunt.

| Submit Comments | Comments (6) | Previous | Next

Showing comments 1 to 6 and replies | View All

MPs gravy train, UK (03/03/2010 at 14:48)

Well Greg. You can't claim to be doing an election stunt after your recent comments trying to suggest that this was the lowest increase imposed for years. People aren't stupid. They will vote all the Lib Dem councillors due for re-election in May off the council. Then how proud will you be?

Just can't understand how stupid and stubborn they can be. The people of this town have some of the lowest household wages of any town in the UK. 3.9% is unaffordable. We can't protect every service if we can't afford it. It is easy to say that "you are protecting services" when you are simply spending other people's money. Very easy.

Frustrated Tax Payer, Rochdale (03/03/2010 at 20:46)

Let me get this right, the working people of Rochdale are paying more for fire and police services......is this because we have more scum in our town than any other and call upon these services more and more to clear up after them?? You just have to read this weeks paper to see criminal after criminal appearing. Where is the justice? Great Britain!!! I dont think so, it pays to be a criminal!!!!

Lynne Brosnan, Rochdale (04/03/2010 at 23:07)

Taking into account council tax, rents, water and other essentials most will probably be paying about 10% more. Most won't be getting a pay rise if they are it will be 1 - 2%. Very arrogant of Cllr Couzens to accuse just about every council in the UK of pulling an election stunt. Although most councils will have finacial burdens they recognise that people just haven't got the spare cash and so therefore have acted accordingly.
Cllr Couzins says it will make rochdale more sustainable pity it won't do that for the people of Rochdale.
Rochdale is already one of the most deprived in the country putting this extra burden on people just does not help.
One things for sure Cllr Couzins will go down in Rochdale's history for the worst hike on record. Shame on you.

Shytorque, Heywood (05/03/2010 at 21:53)

After the utter chaos of the ungritted roads recently which led to no refuse collections over Christmas ,how on earth can they demand the highest rise in Council Tax in the country .It beggars belief ,it really does .
This extra is going towards their fat Pensions ,not the services we require and expect it to go on .
Hang your heads in shame you greedy extortionists .!!!!!!!

Lynne Brosnan, Rochdale (06/03/2010 at 16:49)

This is a disgraceful hike. Added with rent rises, utility rises it looks like Rochdale folk will have to fork ot a further ten percent or there abouts. For Cllr Couzins to say other councils are using it as a voting gimmick is pathetic and shows a great deal of arrogance. Rochdale is one of the most deprived town in the country noted for it's low pay, lack of skills and more and more people being made redundant. Yet what do we get probably the highest increase in the whole of the country.

sonofa tool (08/03/2010 at 20:42)

How much unpaid council tax has been wrote-off over the last couple of years? Why can't we have some transparancy?

When will the people realise they are being robbed?

()

Report

News