 West Lancs Borough Council has announced that Council Tax and car park fees will be frozen for 12 months to help local residents through the recession.
The decision to hold Council Tax at its current level was taken on 24 February when the Council set its budget for 2010/11. Fees for pest control, bulky collections and many other council services will also be frozen.
Cllr David Westley, portfolio holder for finance, said: “The recession is having a huge impact on hard-working local people and we have decided to freeze Council Tax and our other charges to help ease the burden.
“We are able to do this without cutting front-line services or taking money from reserves because of the very tough decisions we have taken over the last year to reduce costs and balance the books. Our prudent action means we are now in a strong financial position and local residents can reap the benefit.”
Over the last 12 months, the Council completed a £1.6 million package of efficiency savings and a 10% reduction in the workforce. This was carried out because the Council, along with all other local authorities in the country, faced cuts in public-sector funding and reduced income through the recession.
The Council faced a budget gap of only £228,000 in 2010/11 and this will be met through a number of efficiencies including:
- Saving £90,000 on human resources management costs through partnership working with Lancs County Council
- £16,000 reduction on rents at the Customer Service Point in Skelmersdale
- £30,000 through introducing wheelie bins in Skelmersdale.
The Council has set aside £25,000 in a special budget to help deal with problems caused by severe weather, and £2,000 in a new grants scheme for older people. More details will be announced in due course.
Cllr Westley added: “The freeze on Council Tax and other charges is great news for residents but I have to warn that there are difficult days ahead. For example we face a £315,000 shortfall in the coming year due to a drop in planning applications and reduced income from commercial rents and investments. This is an austerity budget as we expect our income will continue to fall, and we are likely to face funding shortfalls in future years. We are maintaining a modest level of reserves - £5.4 million –which means we have a firm financial foundation to help us face the difficult years ahead.”
The total Council tax paid to West Lancs Borough Council for the average Band D property in 20010/11 will be £183.55 – exactly the same as in 2009/10.
25th February 2010 | 
