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Council tax could 'rocket'
COUNCIL tax bills in Fylde could rocket, amid claims budget bosses plan to "double-tax" residents.
Budget chiefs at Fylde want town and parish council's to take over the management of the borough's parks.
But opponents to the plans say if the money saved from transferring the work to parish councils is not slashed from council tax bills, residents will be effectively paying twice.
Fylde Council has already said it wants to raise council tax to the maximum it is allowed – 4.99 per cent – although no decision has been made.
Retired council officer Fred Moor, a former director of tourism and leisure, said Fylde Council budget chiefs were performing a " financial deception" with the parks and gardens plans.
His claims were backed by Fylde opposition leader, Coun Liz Oades, who submitted a "call in" motion to Fylde's policy development committee, urging the matter be debated by the whole of the council.
Mr Moor told the meeting the plan aimed to increase council tax while avoiding a Government capping limit on council tax of five per cent.
He said: "This is a devious and underhanded financial deception being practiced on Fylde residents in order to avoid capping and to increase council tax by the back door and is an absolute disgrace.
"It cannot benefit residents of Fylde."
In rural villages, such as Freckleton and Wrea Green, parish councils already manage the parks and open spaces.
It is still Fylde Council's job to maintain parks and open spaces in Lytham, St Annes and Kirkham – a task it wants to shed.
Last year, residents in Lytham, St Annes and Kirkham were charged a "special expenses" payment – around 60 extra on an average Band D property – for parks maintenance.
But that could be scrapped under a new proposal, which aims to transfer control to St Annes and Kirkham.
Lytham could also follow suit if a governance review comes back in favour of creating a parish council for the town.
Coun Roger Small rejected the claims the plans would see people billed twice.
He said: "It is not my intention to double tax people in any shape or form."
Coun Small claims the move is aimed at increasing efficiency – with town councils offering to do the job more cheaply.
Meetings to debate the possibility of transferring control of parks to Kirkham - but not St Annes and Lytham – are now set for May 1, May 20 and July 26.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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