‘We shouldn’t begrudge paying more council tax’
Tory’s response to critics of hike in county precept
ACOUNCILLOR says people should not ‘begrudge’ paying more council tax, as Rossendale looks to rebuild from the pandemic.
Coun Anne Cheetham responded following criticism of Lancashire County Council’s (LCC) 3.99pc council tax precept hike, as Rossendale council approved its own 1.99pc rise – the maximum allowed without a public vote.
However, Coun Steve Hughes said: “It is very easy for us to sit here and say that, but we are not the ones who are struggling to pay for food and heating on a weekly basis.”
The borough council increase will account for £5.56 of the forecast overall £77.84 annual council tax bill rise for Band D homes – on top of LCC, police and fire rises.
Rossendale’s full council meeting saw broad crossparty approval for Labour’s £8.90m revenue budget and £6.21m capital programme.
The exceptions were husband and wife Tory councillors David Stansfield and Val Roberts.
Earlier, Coun Stansfield’s comments explaining his rebellion against county hall’s tax rise – a vote which had seen him suspended from the Conservative lead group – were greeted by ‘hear, hear’ from appreciative members.
The budget report includes £100,000 to Rossendale Leisure Trust.
Coun Andrew Walmsley, cabinet member for resources, said the government’s revenue support grant had been cut from £3.22m in 2013/14 to zero in 2020, and going forward.
“There are many risks outside the control of this authority; not least Covid, the Fair Funding Review and Brexit to name but a few,” he said.
“Residents are paying more, government are contributing less, and the result is services are reducing. It doesn’t stop me worrying quite seriously for our future, particularly of our small businesses.”
Community First Coun Alan Neal said: “It’s a sad indictment of the county council that they want to increase [council tax] by nearly 4pc. Every household in Rossendale has been impacted by job loss, furlough, losing a loved one, and we keep hearing bold statements talking about spending billions so people can get from London to Manchester 15 minutes quicker.”
Council leader Alyson Barnes said the government were “clobbering families with this £2billion tax hit”.
“They could easily have contributed more to the cost of providing local services, but have chosen once again not to do that.
“The timing of this is absolutely dreadful. These council tax hikes are pushing people under,” she said.
Coun Cheetham is also a part of the Conservative group at LCC which voted in a 3.99pc precept rise – including a 2pc rise to cover adult social care.
The authority helped source £6m of PPE at the height of last spring’s shortage, and county councillors had been warned that opposing the rise would be voting for “cuts” to “big ticket” services.
She said we have to support those who had rejoined the NHS and social services to care for our most vulnerable.
“We do want to make sure that people are looked after within their homes, if that’s their preference,” she said.
“Don’t begrudge perhaps paying that extra penny or twopence a week.”
The Eden ward councillor called on the borough council to be “as careful and practical as possible”, and also hit back at Labour complaints that the government was funding police investment through council tax.
Labour’s Lancashire Police Commissioner Clive
Grunshaw has obtained a 7.1pc rise in the police precept to fund 153 new officers
She said: “I don’t know where all the money has been spent in Lancashire, but it’s not been spent in Rossendale.
“I want to see proper local police officers.
“I’m also watching very carefully that money is not thrown down the drain.
“We have got certain debts that we have to pay off with this authority – which I know will be honoured, and it will be difficult.
“Everybody can be marvellous with hindsight.
“We must learn from some of the mistakes that have been made over the years, but don’t begrudge helping those who are in need of our support.”
Coun Hughes said: “I don’t think anybody is begrudging supporting those who are in need, who have helped us through this tragedy of a year.
“What I think people are aggrieved at is the fact the Government’s strategy is to put that back at the feet of councils. £409 a month is what you get on Universal Credit.
“It is shocking.”
Coun Patrick Marriott said: “We are putting food boxes on streets because people don’t have that extra twopence a week.”