Chorley council tax freeze agreed
8:00am Saturday 9th March 2013 in News
Council tax has been frozen by Chorley Council just as it announced a £2.8million investment plan.
The council’s budget was agreed last week with the controlling Labour group saying new jobs, supporting the local economy and making better use of landmark sites were their priorities.
The opposition Conservatives had urged a reduction in tax and warned that the council was risking future finances by ‘borrowing money to spend on a series of speculative and risky land and property projects’.
Supporting the budget, Coun Peter Wilson, deputy leader of Chorley Council, said: “We find ourselves in an almost unique position, when you hear the doom and gloom coming from other authorities in Lancashire, where we can maintain all our front-line services, freeze council tax and still be able to make investment in the local area. However, there are still very tough times ahead, which is why we must continue to look at how we can save money, do things more efficiently and make sure we work with residents to provide the services they want.”
Tory leader, Coun Peter Goldsworthy, said: “The council is now to borrow money to spend on a series of speculative and risky land and property projects. The extra £2m will have to be paid off over the next 50 years by present and as yet to be born council tax payers. This is total madness.”
