Council tax rise pegged to 1.9pc

Householders across Oldham will pay an average of 40p a week more in council tax next year when the rise is fixed at 1.9 per cent.

The figure will be voted on at the budget-fixing council meeting on February 24.

It goes further than the Liberal Democrats’ original pledge when they took control of the council two years ago. Back then, they said they would keep rises below 2.5 per cent.

Councillor Lynne Thompson, Cabinet member for finance, says the extra money has been found from savings and lower-than-budgeted contributions Oldham has to make to pooled services across Greater Manchester, such as the police and fire service.

She added: “We believe that passing this on to citizens represents the best balance between protecting and improving services, minimising rises in council tax and keeping the council’s finances on a safe and even keel.

“The consistent message from our consultations has been that the public want the tax to be as low as possible, but not at the expense of slashing services.”

Services have improved, she added, pulling Oldham away from the bottom end of the Greater Manchester clean streets league to the top, and from the lower reaches to third out of 10 for recycling.

This year’s £11 million savings were first spelled out in November, and have been sent out for consultation along the way. Councillor Thompson said: “Traditionally in Oldham, budget-setting has been something of a cloak-and-dagger affair, with details guarded until the last second before the publication deadline.

“We have ditched that. Grown-up politics is about mature and open debate.”

Council leader Howard Sykes said the rise was modest and value for money.

He said: “It makes head-way towards a leaner council and a fitter borough, ready to get the full benefit of the economic upturn when it comes. It is a set of proposals that invests in the future and is ready for the economic recovery.”