£15 million cuts as council tax is frozen

OLDHAM has pledged to freeze council tax in April and make £15 million of savings this year.

The promises are among 13 outlined for 2010-11 by the joint Liberal-Democrat and Conservative administration.

The freeze — which the Government is demanding from every council — will keep bills for an average Band D property at £1,542.83.

The majority of residents who live in band B properties will pay £1,999.98. This is before any parish council levies or increases in the police and fire charges.

Other pledges include carrying out spending plans already announced, such as bringing Metrolink to Oldham hand-in-hand with £5 million town centre improvements; £1.45 million for major work at Oldham Coliseum; £10 million to improve roads over four years and starting work to save Oldham’s old town hall.

The new Albion Street Market, which opened last weekend, is also on the list; investing at least £145 million in estates from the transfer of ownership of the borough’s council houses; bringing at least 100 empty homes into use; clearing 25 grot spots by December; improving recycling and achieving the record GCSE results.

Council leader Howard Sykes said “Since the Liberal Democrats took control of the council in 2008, we have built an enviable track record of delivering real improvements right across the borough.”