Funds boost for tax-freeze council

OLDHAM Council is one of 133 local authorities that will qualify for extra Government funding if it sticks to freezing council tax.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has set aside £650 million to offer a grant worth 2.5 per cent of council tax to those authorities which do not impose a rise on residents in April.

He released a list of 133 authorities, including Oldham, which have so far signalled their intention to avoid a rise, despite a tough funding settlement which the Local Government Association calculates will leave councils in England with a £6.5 billion shortfall.

Mr Pickles said: “I welcome the news that already over 130 ‘can–do councils’ are planning to take part in the Government’s £650 million council tax freeze initiative.”