Council tax hike to protect key services

Councillor Abdul Jabbar

COUNCIL tax in Oldham is set to rise by 3.9 per cent, bringing the council around £3million to save key services.

Oldham’s Liberal Democrat group claims, Labour is proposing two per cent of the rise will be spent on improvements in adult social care and the rest on other services.

A national proposal will allow councils to increase council tax by two per cent for adult social care spending, which all Greater Manchester councils are expected to follow. Oldham’s Labour group then proposes to raise another £1.5 million for other services.

A special budget Cabinet meeting is set for February 11; full council will vote on its proposals on February 24.

Councillor Abdul Jabbar, cabinet member for finance and human resources, said: “We’re currently considering proposals. No final decision has been made. We would not do this lightly, but we must balance the books and protect key frontline services.

““We know cuts are having a real impact on all residents and services — especially our most vulnerable residents.

“Unlike many other local authorities, we have no plans to close local libraries, community centres or children’s centres, for example. We’ve invested in our regeneration.”

Oldham’s Liberal Democrat group — which supports an increase has published its own “alternative budget”. It wants to put £5million into road improvements and to cut council costs by reducing councillor numbers from 60 to 40, among other moves.