Council unveils spending plans

Rochdale Council has unveiled proposals to spend £73 million on affordable housing, improving leisure facilities and building joint service centres. The plans were made at a Cabinet meeting earlier this week following a review of the council's capital spending programme. The Council believes that the Government's recent budget settlement will allow the council to eliminate its budget deficit.

Council finance bosses believe that the amount the Government pays to Rochdale Council to provide local services from the money it gets from taxpayer will eliminate the Council's budget deficit.

"This year's settlement will allow us to slay the 'budget gap' dragon we have fought for the last two years and be confident that, over the next three years, the council can deliver on its promises to invest in effective, efficient local services whilst keeping Council Tax increases low," said Councillor Greg Couzens, council cabinet member for finance.

As part of a £22.9 million scheme the Council hopes to update and renew facilities at Central Leisure, Heywood Sports Village, Middleton Arena, Marland Golf Course, Furrow Sports Centre, Hollingworth Lake Water Activity Centre and the Littleborough Campus.

The Council hopes to spend £28 million on new, affordable homes in sustainable communities throughout the borough as part of the Partners in Action Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder and as part of the Heywood Sustainable Urban Neighbourhoods project.

£12 million could be spent on joint service centres in Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, locating council, health and voluntary services under one roof.

£250,000 may be spent on increasing safety and security at properties in the borough.

Councillor Couzens continued: "I believe our proposals will deliver very concrete and sustainable improvements in services that local people have told us are a priority for them. By investing in leisure and service centres we will be able to help people all over the borough improve their health and well being whilst affordable homes and sustainable communities will help secure local prosperity."

There will be consultation on the budget proposal in January before they come back to the council for a final decision in February 2008.