Council tax increase on the way

THE majority of Oldham residents will see their Council Tax bills rise to £1,009.39 from April.

The figure for people living in a Band A property is up by £24.63 from last year.

The 2.5 per cent increase, which does not include parish council precepts, means the tax for an average Band D house rises to £1,514.07

Rent for the borough’s 12,500 council houses will also increase by an average of 6.13 per cent — although more than 200 tenants will see the amount they pay jump by more than 7 per cent. Garage rents and service charges, such as concierge, will both increase by 5 per cent.

Councillor John McCann said the average rent rise of £3.61 per week would not affect people on housing benefit and added: “The council has no alternative but to accept the increase to keep up with the Government’s national rent-setting regime.

“First Choice Homes Oldham (which manages the borough’s council houses) will now work with tenants and other agencies to help residents manage their rent and avoid arrears.”

The Liberal Democrat’s defended the 2.5 per cent Council Tax rise at yesterday’s cabinet meeting saying that Labour’s proposed freeze would save households 47 pence a week, the cost of half a bag of chips. They claimed that Labour proposals — which include free swimming for all, subject to NHS funding, and additional money for crime prevention — were not costed and would not help the most needy.

They would place Oldham “damn near” to the edge of the precipice at a time when the financial crisis could hold more nasty surprises, they said

Instead, they say they have put Oldham on a stable footing by plugging a £20 million shortfall and increasing the money to meet emergencies.

Councillor Lynne Thompson, cabinet member for finance and resources, described the budget plans for the next three years as prudent.

A total of 488 council posts have already been predicted to go in 2009/10 with a further 56 between 2010 and 2012.

“It is not easy. There is a lot of sympathy for people who have lost their jobs. I am determined we do not do that for nothing, we use that to turn this borough around,” said Councillor Thompson.

However Councillor Dave Hibbert, Labour’s opposition cabinet member, said the Lib-Dems’ proposals failed to tackle crumbling Oldham.

The budget will be decided by Oldham Council next Wednesday.




WHAT YOU’LL PAY



Council tax bandings

(including police, fire and parish precepts)






Oldham



2008/9 2009/10

A £984.76 £1,009.39

B £1,148.89 £1,177.60

C £1,313.01 £1,345.84

D £1,477.14 £1,514.07

E £1,805.39 £1,850.54

F £2,133.65 £2,186.99

G £2,461.90 £2,523.46

H £2,954.28 £3,028.14




Saddleworth



2008/9 2009/10

A £996.43 £1,021.32

B £1,162.50 £1,191.52

C £1,328.57 £1,361.75

D £1,494.64 £1,531.97

E £1,826.78 £1,872.42

F £2,158.92 £2,212.85

G £2,491.07 £2,553.29

H £2,989.28 £3,063.94




Shaw and Crompton



2008/9 2009/10

A £993.89 £1,018.89

B £1,159.53 £1,188.68

C £1,325.18 £1,358.51

D £1,490.83 £1,528.32

E £1,822.13 £1,867.96

F £2,153.42 £2,207.57

G £2,484.72 £2,547.21

H £2,981.66 £3,056.64