Wirral Council approves 4.4% increase in council tax

Mar 4 2009 Wallasey News

WIRRAL council has approved a 4.4% increase in council tax despite another bid by opposition Conservatives and rebel Liberal Democrats to overturn controversial library closures.

The Labour-Lib Dem budget will see a band D property’s bill rise from £1,387.64 to £1,439.

Labour leader Steve Foulkes insisted it had been a difficult year, but outlined a number of measures which he said would help the people of Wirral.

Among those was a council tax freeze for those over 75 years of age and help for local businesses, including a fund to ensure they are paid promptly, as well as an extra £690,000 for child protection in the wake of reports on the Baby P case.

Cllr Foulkes also defended plans which will see the council step in to help homebuyers affected by the credit crunch get onto the property ladder.

He insisted a Tory budget amendment would see the authority begin the next year with a £9m hole in its budget.

And he said the rise was partly due to changes made to the controversial Strategic Asset Review (SAR).

Cllr Foulkes said: “The council tax is 4.4% because people got what they campaigned for - it would have been 3.8%.

“Members of the public understand there is a difference between taking control and acting responsibly and the recklessness of the opposition.”

During a sometimes bitter debate at Wallasey town hall, Lib-Dem leader Cllr Holbrook also said the Conservatives’ alternative budget plans for a 2.5% council rise, which would also abandon the SAR, would leave the council facing financial ruin.

But Conservative leader Jeff Green warned the Labour budget would result in the “obliteration of libraries and community centres”.

He renewed the Conservatives’ pledge to re-open any facilities closed by the current administration should they take control of the council.

In a surprise move after their own amendment was defeated by united Labour and Lib Dem councillors, the Conservatives backed five rebel Lib Dems over Cllr Phil Gilchrist’s amendment, which recommended retaining the 11 libraries facing closure.

Charles McKeown, vice chairman of the Wirral branch of the Federation of Small Businesses, broadly welcomed any moves which would see the council pay his members more promptly.

Mr McKeown, a former company director, said: "Much of my company's work was with local authorities, 75% of it.

"I would definitely welcome anything which sees councils pay small businesses faster.”

Council tax bills will rise to £959 for a band A property in 2009/10, with £1,119 for band B, £1,279 for band C, £1,439 for band D, £1,759 for band E, £2,079 for band F, £2,399 for band G, £2,399 for band H and £2,879 for band G.