COUNCIL taxpayers in Rossendale face a rise of 7.5 per cent, taking the charge for an average Band D property up from £812.37 to £873.74.

Extra grant from the Government plus a raid on council reserves has allowed the Labour-controlled council to bring its own precept down by 14.2 per cent.

The cut of £25 per house offsets the 14 per cent rise in the tax raised by Lancashire County Council which makes up 80 per cent of the bill for Valley families.

The £7,243,000 budget includes improvements to council services totalling £200,310 and savings or extra income totalling £186,120.

A total of £464,290 has been taken from the council balances to keep the budget at the spending ceiling set by the government. Improvements include £25,000 to be spent on new cycleways through the Valley, £8,600 on a development officer to bring new industry to Rossendale, £10,000 to allow three school-leavers to be taken on as Modern Apprentices, £20,000 for a new food safety inspector, £14,230 for computer support in the environmental health section and £20,000 on disabled access to council offices.

But the council is banking on not having to make major repairs to the Valley's three swimming pools before Lottery funding is received to build one or two new baths complexes.

Council staff had sought £175,580 for repairs to swimming pools in Haslingden, Whitworth and Rawtenstall which are all showing their age. Only £5,000 - for a new cover for Whitworth pool - has been approved.

The council is counting on £20,000 of extra income from Whitworth Pool through increased charges and £9,000 from a new £75 fee for town hall advice and assistance in filling out forms for improvement grants.

Presenting the new budget, council leader Coun John McManus said this was the borough's ninth standstill budget. He told the special council meeting: "Our major new schemes will include the transformation of the centre of Rawtenstall, continued work to revitalise Haslingden with help from the SRB project, new cycleways and the appointment of a development officer to spearhead our drive to attract new, modern industries and jobs." He told councillors Rossendale received £1 million a year less than neighbouring authorities and had special problems due to decaying sewers and culverts and crumbling hillside retaining walls which have cost the council an average of £286,000 a year over the last six years.

MPs Janet Anderson and Greg Pope have received a report on the problem and are seeking extra funding for Rossendale to deal with the problems of its Victorian heritage.

Coun McManus said: "This is a prudent budget but we continue to make progress and to improve the fabric of our towns."

Conservative leader Coun John Holt claimed the Labour-led council had "no strategy for the future" and described the Housing department as "in a mess."

He said staff morale was low and rent arrears were rising rapidly.

The 1998/9 council tax rates, with the Whitworth figure in brackets, are: Band A £582.50 (£597.45); Band B £679.57 (£697.01); Band C (£776.66 (£796.59); Band D £873.74 (£896.16); Band E £1,067.91 (£1,095.31): Band F £1,262.07 (1,294.45); Band G £1,456.24 (£1,493.61); Band H £1,747.48 (£1,792.32)

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