Inverclyde Now Logo INVERCLYDE Council Confirms It Is Not Increasing Council Tax

17 February, 2017 | Noticeboard

INVERCLYDE Council has agreed its budget for 2017/18 and decided not to increase the current level of band ‘D’ council tax.

Speaking at the council budget meeting, Council Leader, Councillor Stephen McCabe, said: “Despite the higher than expected like-for-like grant cut of nearly £5million from the Scottish Government, we have been able to balance the 2017/18 budget without further service reductions over and above those previously agreed. This will be achieved through the use of reserves.

“The council has also decided not to change the band ‘D’ level of council tax. It is worth highlighting though that this does not mean council tax is frozen and the council has taken steps to ensure that residents in bands E-H are aware in advance of the national tax changes which will affect them from April.

“Through prudent financial management, we are once again able to make a number of one-off allocations in support of the council’s policy objectives including investment in town and village centres; employability; anti-poverty fund; additional money for grants to voluntary organisations and funding to promote a new initiative for Inverclyde to become an autism friendly community.

“I thank the members of the budget working group for the constructive part they played in developing these proposals. There can’t be many -– if any -– councils in Scotland with a more inclusive approach to budget setting.”

Additional investment areas for the council’s 2017 budget include:

— Town and Village Centres — £2.5million — Support for the ongoing regeneration of town and village centres with funding reflecting the relative sizes and needs of each centre. Priority projects will be drawn up in consultation with the three town centre regeneration forums and relevant community councils.

— Employability – £500,000 –To support a range of employability initiatives, including the creation of apprenticeship opportunities, building on the council’s existing programmes.

— Anti-Poverty Fund – £1million — To fund a range of initiatives to support individuals and families living in poverty.

— Grants to Voluntary Organisations — £150,000 — To support local voluntary groups, supplementing the existing Grants to Voluntary Organisations fund.

— Autism friendly community — £150,000 — To support a new initiative to make Inverclyde an autism-friendly community building on the existing local autism strategy and the good work of local voluntary groups like ‘Reach for Autism’.

Capital Programme

The council has also agreed its latest capital programme, for 2017-2020. The total proposed investment over this period is just over £86million, with £37million to be invested in schools including:

£5million on the refurbishment of Moorfoot Primary School

£3.6million on the refurbishment of Lady Alice Primary School

£9.1million on a new St Ninian’s Primary School

£1.7million on an extension to Gourock Primary School

£5.2million on the refurbishment and extension of St Mary’s Primary School

£1.1million on the refurbishment of Bluebird Family Centre

£3million on a new early years facility for Greenock’s west end

£1million on providing a new home for Glenbrae Children’s Centre

£1million on the refurbishment of Hillend Children’s Centre

£350,000 on the upgrade of Larkfield Children’s Centre.

The council has also set aside £350,000 to support match funding of a new indoor sports facility. The funding would support a bid to Sports Scotland and the Lawn Tennis Association for an indoor sports facility suitable for tennis.

The membership of Inverclyde Council’s cross-party members budget working group is Councillor Ronnie Ahlfeld (independent); Councillor Jim Clocherty (Labour); Councillor Vaughan Jones (independent); Chair, Councillor Stephen McCabe (Labour); Councillor Ciano Rebecchi (Liberal Democrat) and Councillor David Wilson (Conservative).

Inverclyde Council tax for Band D is set at £1,198.00.

Water and sewerage charges, collected by Inverclyde Council through council tax bills are set separately by Scottish Water.

The multiplier affecting council tax bands E –H across Scotland will see council tax increase from between 7.5 per cent to 22 per cent.

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