Pendle Council tax is frozen

Under the 2009/10 budget, approved at Thursday’s full council meeting, the rate for a Band D property will remain at £1,553.17.

In addition all of the borough’s current services, including free swimming for under 16s, will also stay in place.

All parties agreed with council leader Coun John David hat it was a “good night for Pendle.”

Both Liberal Democrat and Conservative councillors proposed no rise in the tax.

However, Labour’s proposal for a one per cent rise, which would have allowed for a return to weekly refuse collections, was defeated.

Once the three group leaders had presented their budgets, there was an adjournment of 45 minutes while leaders and officers discussed amendments.

As part of his opening speech, Coun David said the authority has made budget savings of £850,000 over the last year.

And he vowed that residents will continue to see improvements in the borough despite the economy’s challenging financial downturn.

He added: “We’ll do our utmost to save residents from the ravages of the credit crunch, while continuing to improve and invest in services. Our budget is a zero budget - zero increase in council tax and zero cuts in services.

“Our grant is effectively being frozen just at a time when we need real financial support.”

Speaking for the Conservatives, Coun Linda Crossley said the Tories were opposed to the introduction of charges for bulky household waste and replacement wheelie bins.

Coun Mohammed Iqbal, leader of the Labour group, said he viewed the figure of £750,000, quoted by the ruling party for the reintroduction of weekly waste collections with "great scepticism."

The zero rise in Pendle's share of the tax means that bills will rise by around 2.6 per cent next year once increases agreed by Lancashire County Council and the police and fire authorities are taken into account.

The figures given do not take account of any precepts added on by individual town and parish councils.