Councillors keep tax rise to 2.5%

Mar 6 2008 by Aaron Boland, Liverpool Daily Post

COUNCIL tax payers in St Helens will see their bills increase by 2.5% for the seventh year in a row.

It means the average Band A household will see its annual bill rise to £873.40, an increase of £23.93. Band D households will pay £1,310.11, an increase of £35.91 .

Council leaders said the increase was one of the lowest in the country, and the 2008/09 budget would provide more money for education, adult and young people’s social care, regeneration, the environment and culture.

There would be extra cash to tackle anti-social behaviour, crime, drug and alcohol abuse, and to employ someone to police the sale of alcohol to under age children.

More money would be available for supporting youth work.

Plans include a new leisure centre and poolat Queens Park and improvements to recycling rates.

In his budget speech last night, council leader Brian Spencer announced plans to increase green bins by 5,000 from April, bringing the number to about 60,000.

He said: “The council has been recognised as a top performing authority and it is our commitment to providing quality services while constantly striving for efficiency that puts us in a position to improve services even further while keeping council tax increases to a minimum.”

At its budget-setting meeting last night, Halton council approved a 3.5% increase in council tax taking the average Band D rate to £1,278.43 across the borough, an increase of £36.52 over the year. When added to the 17% police and 2.8% fire precepts this takes the cost of a Band A home to £852.29, an increase of £24.35.

The budget was approved last night at a meeting in Runcorn Town Hall.

Savings included £50,000 on transport services to schools, and another £50,000 through energy efficiency across the council.

Growth areas for 2008/09 include a £500,000 investment in Building Schools for the Future, and £340,000 in older peoples’ services.

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