Town Hall pledge on four star service

WARRINGTON Borough Council has pledged to maintain a “four star service” for the town’s residents – despite the pressures caused by the worst economic situation for decades.
Town Hall chiefs believe they have already made substantial progress towards their key aim – that of making the borough one of the best places to live and work in the UK by 2030.
The budget for the coming year is one for everyone in Warrington, focussing on five key ambitions – to make Warrington prosperous and vibrant, ambitious and achieving, environmentally responsible and attractive, healthy and active and safe and strong.
Coun Fiona Bruce, (pictured) executive member for finance and value for money, said: “In short this is a 21st century budget for a 21st century town and I am proud to be a member of the joint administration proposing it.”
She moved a budget which, she said, after taking into account the precepts of the police and fire authorities and the parish councils, would result in a council tax increase of no more than 3.9 per cent for any Warrington resident.
Council Tax rate increase this year after the police fire parish precepts have been taken into account of no more than 3.9% for any Warrington resident.
The Labour opposition did not oppose the budget.
Spokesman Coun Paul Kenny said his group welcomed many aspects of the budget and in the current economic situation would not oppose it. The Labour members abstained when the budget was put to the vote.
Coun Bruce said no-one could deny that this was the most difficult economic climate for decades.
The council was not immune from the pressures it created and faced substantial additional unexpected expenditure and income shortfalls.
The authority’s utility bills were up by £800,000, schooling costs by £200,000
bus contracts by £120,000 and tarmac costs by £150,000.
There were many other increases, she said.
“Other pressures confront us. Whilst some of our funding comes from central Government grants, some from the Council Tax and some from a proportion of business rates, other funding for our budget comes from income we make from charging for services.
“This too is affected by the economic downturn – £300,000 less income from Land Charges Search just because fewer people are moving house and £250,000. less market rental income.”
At the same time the council faced extra costly obligations imposed by central government.
But the council was determined to continue to deliver an excellent four star quality service. This high quality level of service was attained two years ago and the council did not intend giving it up.
At the same time, the council would not stand still and the budget proposed priority investments of more than £1.5 million for improvements for the town.
The council would do more with less.