Pendle Borough Council
Market Street, Nelson, Lancashire BB9 7LG
Tel: 01282 661661 Fax: 01282 661130
Council Tax To Rise By 3.3%
Council Tax is to rise by 3.34% per cent overall from April.
This is despite the Government withholding almost £500,000 from the Council, the cost of inflation and the Council earmarking more money for improving parks and sports fields.
The 3.34% rise in the overall council tax equates to an extra 55 pence a week for Band A properties and an extra 83 pence a week for Band D properties.
Some of the extra money will also go to Pendle Leisure Trust to help to retain and improve leisure facilities across the Borough. Extra money is also proposed for Pendle Heritage Trust in Barrowford which runs tourist information services on behalf of the Council.
Coun. Alan Davies, Leader of Pendle Council, said: “Keeping the council tax increase down to this level is quite an achievement. The Government is withholding almost £500,000 from the Council which goes against what it said it would do two years ago when it introduced a new funding formula for councils.”
“The Council has worked hard to ensure that the budget is sustainable over the next couple of years. That is, services should be maintained at current levels rather than face cut backs.”
Stephen Barnes, Chief Executive, said: “The Council has managed to make significant efficiency savings over the last year both from day-to-day operations but also from the new partnership deal with Liberata who will manage some of the Council services from later this month.
“Compared with other authorities in Lancashire, Pendle is on a reasonably strong financial footing despite huge pressures from all quarters.”
-ends-
9 February 2005
For further information please contact: Richard Boyd, Communications Team, Corporate Strategy and Partnerships Unit, Pendle Council, Town Hall, Market Street, Nelson, BB9 7LG
Tel: 01282 661970
Fax: 01282 661630
Email: richard.boyd@pendle.gov.uk
