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Fylde spending plea aims to deflect blame, says opposition leader
CALLS to raise council tax in Fylde above the five per cent limit set by the Government have been slammed as "a publicity stunt."
Fylde Council leaders, who will set the budget on March 3, have asked the Local Government Office North West to consider allowing them to raise taxes above the Government cap.
The authority has deep financial problems, which have forced it to cut jobs, implement a recruitment freeze and close St Annes swimming pool.
But opposition councillors say the move is being used to deflect blame from what they describe as the ruling Conservative group’s “financial mismanagement”.
Opposition leader Liz Oades told The Gazette: “I believe it’s a stunt to deflect attention from the fact the authority is now desperately short of money and I don’t want anybody to be fooled.
“They’ve had to shut a swimming pool and implement a staff recruitment freeze because of their financial mismanagement.
“I believe once their proposal is rejected by the government, they will blame the government for their woes instead of taking the rap themselves.
“It will be a travesty if they are allowed to get away with it, not to mention the increased cost to the taxpayer.”
Town hall bosses have blamed the state of the economy, a government funding shortfall for the free bus travel for pensioners scheme and other “external pressures” for their financial problems.
Council leader John Coombes, said: “Government imposed costs such as the concessionary travel scheme and significant falls in other income streams have created extra strains on the budget.
“The national press has been full of stories about challenges facing local councils and the potential threat to thousands of jobs – Fylde is no different.
“We are putting together a budget, which is being set in the main by external factors.
“We still need to invest in our parks, gardens and other facilities but the bottom line is that we have had almost 600,000 taken out of our budget by the Government.
“Unless we fight our corner these much-loved facilities will face inevitable decline.”
Fylde Council expects to raise council tax by the maximum 4.99 per cent allowed by the Government.
The final budget will, barring Government permission for a rise above five per cent, be set at 11.1m this year.
Due to an overspend last year, the council will have to make up at least 1.17m – which will come mainly from reducing services and increasing charges.
With a 4.99 per cent rise, residents in council tax band D would pay around 170 a month next year, excluding parish precepts.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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