Band-contest support not drummed home

OLDHAM COUNCIL REPORTS

OLDHAM Council could not commit to financially supporting the popular Whit Friday Brass Band Contests next year.

Chairman of Saddleworth Parish Council Bill Cullen hoped rumours would be scotched about cuts to the annual prize fund and refuse services — plus charges to the event, signage and road closures.

But Cabinet member, Councillor Jean Stretton, said: “The council cannot at this stage say what resources it may be able to provide due to the ongoing review of the budget position.”

LIBERAL Democrat councillors hit out at a project to set up nine regional control centres for fire and rescue services in England by calling it a “complete failure.”

Councillor Philip Holley claimed the Firecontrol scheme has wasted £469million of taxpayers’ money — with Councillor Derek Heffernan calling eight of the new nine centres as “empty white elephants”.

Councillor Heffernan said the project “was flawed from the outset.”

A majority of councillors voted against a motion for local fire authority members to work with the Chief Fire Officer to deliver a control centre for Greater Manchester.

COUNCILLORS agreed to urge the chancellor of the exchequer to abolish the 50 per cent tax income band unless it is coupled with a cut in VAT.

Councillor Abdul Jabbar said the move would benefit all Oldham residents — not just the few earning over £150,000 per annum.

Council members said they welcomed the £805million funding in order to freeze council tax in 2012 but noted that houses in the higher tax band are the main beneficiaries.

Councillor Jenny Harrison said: “VAT is a regressive tax hitting the poorest the hardest. A rise in VAT means you cut residents’ spending power and that has a knock-on effect on the local economy. This is an opportunity for the government to show it does care.”

OLDHAM Council is in discussions with the Heritage Lottery Fund in a bid to tap more cash into Oldham Coliseum after a third of council support funding was axed.