9:27am Wednesday 10th March 2010
By Brian Gomm
COUNCILLORS voted 41 to 22 to support the Wigan borough's budget which will see Council Tax increase by 1.9 per cent.
Lord Peter Smith, the Leader, said: “The council has sound finances and this is a sustainable budget. Wigan Council will continue to offer quality services which external bodies such as the Audit Commission say that we offer effectively to local people.”
There will be a below inflation increase of 1.25 per cent in April. The rise is one of the lowest in recent years and significantly below the Greater Manchester average. The total increase paid by tax payers will be 1.9 per cent once for police and fire services precept is included.
The figure will also be slightly more for residents of Haigh and Shevington because of their parish council precepts.
The Greater Manchester Average is £1,237 per year, with Wigan coming in at £1,172 and Rochdale at £1,285.
Dr David Smith, executive director of business support services, said: “The council will minimise the burden to residents keeping next year’s council tax rate pegged at below two per cent. In order to achieve this, council must make savings of £6.9M a year over a three year period."
Most properties in the borough will see an increase of less than £2 a month. A Band D home will see a 50p a week increase in its council tax, whilst a B and A will see a 33p weekly increase.
Two thirds of Wigan Council’s funding comes from external sources such as government grant and national business rates. The council tax only accounts for one seventh of the council’s spending.
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