VOTE: Councillors back tax rise (From Warrington Guardian)
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VOTE: Councillors back tax rise
9:04am Tuesday 19th February 2013 in News
Councillors back tax rise
COUNCILLORS have agreed to back a near two per cent rise in council tax from April.
At a meeting on Monday, they supported a 1.98 per cent increase - which adds up to £22.50 a year for the average band D property.
Clr Russ Bowden, executive member for corporate resources and assignments, has been running the budget process.
He says the borough is one of the lowest funded of the 124 metropolitan and unitary authorities in England receiving £1,739 per household compared to Liverpool’s £2,623 per household.
And he said the council was committed to ensuring it protected the most vulnerable in society.
He added: "Once again Warrington will be disproportionately affected by central cuts to grants.
“In setting this budget elected members and officers have worked very closely together to make as many of the necessary savings as possible through stamping out inefficiencies, reorganising services, using our buying power to secure better deals and by generating more income for the council.
“However, the stark truth is we have done much of this already.”
The budget will be finalised at the next full council meeting in March.
Comments(30)
yazhoo1
says...
10:25am Tue 19 Feb 13
http://www.warringto
n.gov.uk/downloads/f
ile/2072/member_allo
wances_claimed_2011-
12
and then open the spreadsheet on that page, you'll see that Russ Bowden claimed over £17,000 in his allowances last year.
Instead of cutting our services or raising our council tax, WHY DOESN'T HE GIVE US SOME OF THE MONEY BACK?
old-codger
says...
10:36am Tue 19 Feb 13
£17,000 in expenses seems to be over top in this financial climate, Have these people got idea,s above their station.
Flash123
says...
11:21am Tue 19 Feb 13
Their website contains useless, out of date information, and it takes weeks to get a response off them.
It took me 7 days of calling to get through to the Council Tax team to sort out the bill at our new office - and that's me trying to give them money!!
Asked last week when my blue bin collection was, as they had neglected to put a note on the bin. According to the website, next collection was 1st January 1970 (I've just missed it then), and eventually got an email back to say my next collection was 14th February - 14th came, and bins weren't collected! Presumably all the binmen were too busy entertaining their other halves!
The council could do much worse than to appoint someone who actually handles the website / online queries / social media... e.g. the modern way of giving a positive impression and showing value for money on council tax!
WTONSkeptic
says...
12:20pm Tue 19 Feb 13
yazhoo1 wrote:Actually, he did not claim this amount, this is the amount he was paid.
If you go here...
http://www.warringto
n.gov.uk/downloads/f
ile/2072/member_allo
wances_claimed_2011-
12
and then open the spreadsheet on that page, you'll see that Russ Bowden claimed over £17,000 in his allowances last year.
Instead of cutting our services or raising our council tax, WHY DOESN'T HE GIVE US SOME OF THE MONEY BACK?
Do you expect that they should do this for free? Maybe you should first be asking how many hours were committed to earn that amount, it may have been 5 hours a week, it may have been 50
warringtonwolves 2013
says...
12:58pm Tue 19 Feb 13
WTONSkeptic
says...
1:05pm Tue 19 Feb 13
warringtonwolves 2013 wrote:why dont you get a higher paid job?
What a joke everything going up apart from wages think i might be better on the dole what do you lot think?
Devs1979
says...
1:24pm Tue 19 Feb 13
I have been in my job for 16+ years now !! And as things are right now I can honestly say I would be better off on the dole
kazz32
says...
1:50pm Tue 19 Feb 13
old-codger
says...
2:03pm Tue 19 Feb 13
Yes I do,
They know its a non-paid position when they sign up for fame and fortune, They want to do something for the community well just do it, Claim travel costs by all means, I would like to see a breakdown of what he claimed and what he was paid,
As for higher paid jobs there are no jobs about and anyone who thinks otherwise is in cuckoo land,
Paul Kennedy
says...
2:44pm Tue 19 Feb 13
http://www.warringto
n.gov.uk/downloads/f
ile/2072/member_allo
wances_claimed_2011-
12
The basic allowance and travel allowance that all Members receive, and the special responsibility allowance that some Members receive (including myself since May 2012) are all subject to PAYE deductions.
In the context of Warrington, annually Members' allowances amount to about £700,000, and WBC spends about £450 million on the services that it provides, of which about £80 million is council tax.
Regarding hours worked, there are no set hours so each Member will do a differing amount, I probably average 25 hours per week and am in a fortunate position to have the time available as I retired from business some years ago. Some Members of course are still in full or part time employment so have to manage their time accordingly.
old-codger
says...
8:20pm Tue 19 Feb 13
You cant say any fairer than that,
aj11129
says...
8:28pm Tue 19 Feb 13
WTONSkeptic
says...
8:33pm Tue 19 Feb 13
For all the people that they say they can do a better job, get elected and prove it, or isn't the CEO position still vacant, apply for the job and show them how its done
Its easy to whine about it, harder to do it
aj11129
says...
8:40pm Tue 19 Feb 13
old-codger
says...
8:48pm Tue 19 Feb 13
1:50pm Tue 19 Feb 13
try dole for afew months then you will soon change your minds”
You do have a point kazz,
More than 1,700 people applied for eight jobs at a new coffee shop, in an indication of how tough the jobs market remains...
WTONSkeptic
says...
9:01pm Tue 19 Feb 13
aj11129 wrote:The Council staff do not get free parking, where are you getting info that this is the case, stick to the facts
they have doubled the amount that they have to get back but they do get free parking why do you think they are trying to bring in you have to pay to park out side your own house even if you do not drive or have a car they are just after more money for their own pokects
the dr who
says...
9:42pm Tue 19 Feb 13
Paul Kennedy wrote:exactley what are the expences for?
Here is the link to Members' Allowances for 2011/12.
http://www.warringto
n.gov.uk/downloads/f
ile/2072/member_allo
wances_claimed_2011-
12
The basic allowance and travel allowance that all Members receive, and the special responsibility allowance that some Members receive (including myself since May 2012) are all subject to PAYE deductions.
In the context of Warrington, annually Members' allowances amount to about £700,000, and WBC spends about £450 million on the services that it provides, of which about £80 million is council tax.
Regarding hours worked, there are no set hours so each Member will do a differing amount, I probably average 25 hours per week and am in a fortunate position to have the time available as I retired from business some years ago. Some Members of course are still in full or part time employment so have to manage their time accordingly.
toffeeman_4ever
says...
10:04pm Tue 19 Feb 13
warringtonwolves 2013
says...
12:47am Wed 20 Feb 13
warringtonwolves 2013 wrote:Ive been looking for a higer paid job
What a joke everything going up apart from wages think i might be better on the dole what do you lot think?
grey_man
says...
9:12am Wed 20 Feb 13
I think it would be better to aim more vitriol at the government than the council for this situation. I know Eric Pickles has now been warned that things might start kicking off in certain towns and cities where their cuts become a serious problem for people.
silverlady54
says...
9:52am Wed 20 Feb 13
annie1275
says...
2:00pm Wed 20 Feb 13
old-codger wrote:Regarding the council tax freeze.The government offered councils an incentive to freeze council tax bills...For 2011/2012 they would give councils around a 2.5% grant of their budgets in return for the freeze..Some councils chose not to take the grant which allows them to put the council tax up..Even though the council would be no worse off, or even better off by having the grant..Meaning we have to foot the bill.
I thought council tax was frozen for three years ??.
£17,000 in expenses seems to be over top in this financial climate, Have these people got idea,s above their station.
Quecumber
says...
2:14pm Wed 20 Feb 13
Spelling Lessons? Sorry, dr who, couldn't resist.
I do agree with grey_man though, there are many worse councils than WBC. With central policy to allow inflation increases and to impose cuts on, lets face it, Metropolitan and Northern councils, then we should certainly be aiming our vitriol at central government.
old-codger
says...
10:03pm Wed 20 Feb 13
The next elections, General or Local gives us the chance to do something other than sit on our ar5es and complain about it,
The three muskateers (Cameron, Osborne and Clegge) dont live on this planet and they are paid a lot more than the rest of us,
If they was in business they would be banned from holding directorships for life,
None of them are elected so its thanks to Clegge that we are in this mess for giving Lib/Dem votes to the Tory,s.
toffeeman_4ever
says...
10:22pm Wed 20 Feb 13
Nick Tessla
says...
3:16pm Thu 21 Feb 13
Two weeks ago their yoof wing protested against a referendum .on the EU
Seems to be anti-democratic tendency developing with the local party.
old-codger
says...
1:40pm Sat 23 Feb 13
Seems to be anti-democratic tendency developing with the local party.”...........
Kids,Brainwashed, Turning into radical anti democratics.
irishwire
says...
10:22am Mon 25 Feb 13
Nick Tessla
says...
12:48pm Mon 25 Feb 13
irishwire wrote:And who are people in receipt of Council Tax benefit more likely to vote for - let me think...........
This was always going to happen but will only affect half the population as half of this town receives Ctax benefit!
Well at least those still living under the nostalgic delusion that Labour are still the decent labour party of old and are more likely to look after their interests
Davem708 says...
10:10am Tue 19 Feb 13