TOWN Hall chiefs at Warrington have admitted that but for the “credit crunch” they would almost certainly have been looking for a bigger increase in council tax.
As it is, the four per cent rise they are suggesting, is little more than a “standstill” budget.
It is less than the current rate of inflation and it balances efficiency savings with increased income to allow some improvements to services.
Council leader Ian Marks said: “We don’t want to add to the doom and gloom. We don’t want to add to inflation either.
“We have talked to people too see the sort of things they want – and people do want to see services maintained and, where possible, improved.”
Deputy leader Coun Keith Bland said the council was committed to keeping the council tax as low as possible and also to maintaining services.
But they also had to look to the future and priority investment proposals including £500,000 for the Building Schools for the Future programme, £205,000 for neighbourhood working, including the provision of neighbourhood wardens, £100,000 on reducing the risk of flooding, £80,000 for improved technology in libraries and £40,000 on improving parks.
Coun Fiona Bruce, (pictured) executive member for finance and value for money, stressed that Warrington was a four-star council and was determined to remain one.
All departments had looked at how they could help keep the council tax down.
Effectively, the council had made savings of £10 million.
They would be using IT more cleverly, adopting a tougher stance when negotiating purchases, disposing of surplus property, building on the “enormous success” of the recycling scheme and looking into job sharing, saving money on overtime and working closely with partners, such as the Primary Care Trust, to streamline services and avoid duplication.
Coun Bruce pointed out that the credit crunch hit the council as well as businesses and householders. For instance, the authority had faced an extra £800,000 on fuel and energy costs. But even so, it was likely the council tax proposal would have been higher but for the economic situation.
An enormous amount of consultation had already taken place and was continuing to take place.
No final decisions had yet been made and the council would consider any suggestions from the public that could lead to savings.
The budget consultation document will be put to the executive board next Monday, January 12 and, when approved, will be available on the council website at www.warrington.gov.uk
Credit crunch keeps council tax down
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
