Council tax increase ratified

Councillor Richard Farnell

The council agreed to increase the council’s share of the council tax by 1.75 per cent when it met on Wednesday night. A two per cent increase to contribute to the costs of adult care was also agreed.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/101149/council-tax-to-increase-by-36pc

The Band D charge will increase by £49.89 a year. Increases in the amount the police and fire authorities charge for their elements of council tax will mean a total Band D increase of £56.03 a year. 

Councillor Richard Farnell, the leader of Rochdale Borough Council, said continuing reductions in Government funding meant there was little option but to increase bills: “The blame for this council tax increase, which is the first in three years, lies squarely at the door of the Government who will not provide the funding for the services that the most vulnerable in our communities need and deserve.

"The increases we have agreed are in line with those recommended by Government.

"When considering the budget for 2016/17 we have had the difficult responsibility to balance the impact on service delivery to our residents of cutting services and that of increasing council tax bills.

“I know that any increase in taxation is unwelcome but I hope that people will recognise we have only increased our share of council tax once in the past six years.

"Despite the extremely challenging financial constraints we have been operating under, we have an ambitious programme to improve opportunities for everyone in our communities and for our businesses and make the borough of Rochdale one of the best places to live and work in the north west region.”

Since 2010 the council has agreed ongoing savings of £143 million and last night councillors agreed to further ongoing savings totalling £32.8m.