Councillors approve freeze of council tax in North East Lincolnshire
COUNCIL tax in North East Lincolnshire has been frozen for a fourth successive year.
Councillors last night approved the zero per cent increase as they voted 24 to 13 to adopt the authority's 2013-14 budget.
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North East Lincolnshire Council leader Chris Shaw
The budget, which will see the council make savings of £14-million next year, was unanimously backed by members of the ruling Labour group.
However, it was opposed by both the opposition Conservative and Liberal Democrat groups amid concerns at the ruling party's proposal to fund last-minute amendments by dipping into the council's reserves.
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The sole UKIP councillor, Ron Shepherd, also voted against.
As previously reported in the Telegraph, the Labour administration unveiled a series of changes to the budget earlier this week, including:
Deferring a planned increase in charges for meals on wheels for two years – at a cost of £68,000.
Deferring an increase in taxi licensing fees – £12,000; and deferring the introduction of new-style taxi plates – £5,000.
Making further investment in promoting the area as a tourist destination, with £100,000 for events and £75,000 for marketing.
Scrapping the proposed transfer of half of one full-time Trading Standards officer into the licensing department, and funding a fixed-term post in licensing at a cost of £7,000.
Spending £30,000 on hosting the Britain In Bloom awards ceremony in Cleethorpes.
The changes will be funded by cutting ward funding in each of the 15 wards by £2,000, and by using £267,000 from reserves.
Council leader Chris Shaw said: "This budget shows the support that this
administration will give to the vulnerable and to business."
He added that taking £267,000 out of reserves was a "prudent use of funding".
However, leader of the Conservative group Keith Brookes said the council was on a "slippery slope" by spending so much of its reserves to prop up the budget and warned that it would "come back to bite when the money runs out".
And leader of the Liberal Democrat group, Andrew De Freitas, described proposals to work with a private company to clamp down on dog fouling and littering as "nonsense".
Both expressed concern that Labour had been able to make last-minute amendments without them going before the scrutiny panels.
Councillor Brookes said: "There is a lack of detail in the budget on many issues and also delegation given to Councillor Shaw and officers to make decisions at a later date.
"Questions that have been given to officers have not been answered and it leaves us without the information needed."
The freeze means the charge for a band D property will remain £1,246.87. However, this does not include the precepts for police, fire and parish councils.
The total bill for each parish in the borough will be published in tomorrow's Grimsby Telegraph.
13 Comments
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by DannyWilde
Saturday, February 23 2013, 7:54PM
“I will give in a go Dave!”
by justsaying
Saturday, February 23 2013, 11:57AM
“Councillor Brookes said: "There is a lack of detail in the budget on many issues and also delegation given to Councillor Shaw and officers to make decisions at a later date."
This fills me with confidence. Labour and Cllr Shaw always know best - it is everyone else that is wrong. I'm just thankful that they are so ready to listen to the public and do a U-turn whenever they find out how unpopular their decisions are!”
by Davex66
Saturday, February 23 2013, 11:23AM
“DannyWilde asks "where do I queue for a handout for an event I want to run so I can earn some money thanks NELC."
I think the way to get your handout is to have Labour Councillors on your committee and regularly say how wonderful they are in the press, but don't ask them actually do anything!”
by plodplayer
Saturday, February 23 2013, 9:18AM
“Interesting comments but no one is answering the main question. I read that the government has cut over 50 million pounds out of the NELC budget, how are the books balanced without cuts?”
by DannyWilde
Friday, February 22 2013, 9:27PM
“Absolutely spot on, the same ie 100% council tax for less services, more gravel and salt marsh, where else would you carry on spending the same but receiving less? A £30k sop for the in bloom, and mentioned below £100k for vents, but the council wouldn't support the carnival I'm guessing they are handing money to the private run airshow, where do I queue for a handout for an event I want to run so I can earn some money thanks NELC.”
by williampink
Friday, February 22 2013, 3:53PM
“GTWebonly. I think you will find inflation and the percentage increase run in proportion. It does not matter which way you look at it, you are still paying more for less.”
by GTWebonly
Friday, February 22 2013, 3:13PM
“Williampink - but then you take inflation at 2.7% and you are in real terms you are paying £97.30 for £95 worth of services.”
by plodplayer
Friday, February 22 2013, 2:19PM
“William Pink, well you could look at it like that I suppose.”
by porcelainblak
Friday, February 22 2013, 2:19PM
“Talking about the council making money, here's a thought.
For years the tip at Moody Lane had a charity bin for clothes. I know that out of those clothes, some which were unsuitable for wearing went to be shredded and made into roofing materials and carpet underlay, the sale of which the charity deserved.
However, when I took my bags this week, the charity bin had gone, and all that remained were yellow wheelie bins marked textiles. How many people will have not been bothered to go somewhere else and just dumped them in there, meaning that saleable clothes will have been mixed in with all the rest for recyclin, and the money going to the council?
Do they think we don't know what they're up to? I left my plastic and cardboard as usual, put the unwearable clothes in the textiles bin, and then took my wearable clothing to a charity shop. This council won't get a penny more out of me than I can avoid.
Williampink - spot on again mate!”
by williampink
Friday, February 22 2013, 1:57PM
“Plodplater, For example last year you paid £100 for a 100% of council services. This year you pay £100 for 95% of council services. A loss of 5% in services. In real terms a rise of 5% for services you are not getting yet paying for. I hope this is of some help.”