Tax cut but some still to pay more
CALDERDALE may be the only council in West Yorkshire to cut council tax – but residents still pay more than anyone else in the county.
Band D homeowners in Calderdale must fork out 1,418 – those in Leeds pay 295 less; Bradford, 140; Wakefield, 134; and Kirklees, 45.
Council leader Stephen Baines said the authority was hamstrung by rules governing the distribution of Government support grants.
“We receive 2.5 million less in grants than the Government says we need to provide our services.
“We should fall below the national average for council tax this year when all the figures are available,” he said.
With that 2.5 million, it would have been possible to reduce council tax bills in Calderdale by up to 40 on a band D property.
The amount Calderdale’s 90,000 households will pay for services provided directly by the council will be reduced by 1 per cent this year, although that become less that 0.6 per cent when increased costs for police and fire services are taken into account.
Leeds City Council is putting up council tax bills by 2.5 per cent this year, putting a band D property on 1,123.
Kirklees Council up 2 per cent (1,373); Bradford Council up 0.9 per cent (1,277) and Wake-field Council up 2.4 per cent (1,284).
But while other councils are looking to shed hundreds of town hall jobs, Calderdale Council has so far got off comparatively lightly.
Councillor Baines said the authority would become more effective, more efficient and “leaner”, and recently 600 staff were asked to consider early retirement.
“There are substantial savings in the third year, involving the number of managers and administrators. We began last year by reducing the senior officers from 32 to 26 and will look to reduce further by voluntary means in the first instance,” he said.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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