One of the lowest rates across 26 councils

Julie Kenwell • Published 11 Feb 2011 09:00 0 Comments

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FERMANAGH District Council struck one of the lowest rates across the 26 councils for the 2011/12 financial year at February’s monthly meeting, despite more than £500,000 of unavoidable cost increases for refuse collection and disposal and a reduction in building control income.

The domestic rate was struck at 0.2477p, reflecting an increase of 1.185% on the previous year, whilst the non-domestic rate of 17.9443p reflects an increase of 1.186%.

Initial indications suggest the regional domestic and non-domestic rates will rise by 2%, meaning homeowners can expect to see their bill rise by 1.67% whilst business rates could increase by 1.7% in total.

This was the first year that the Council adopted an Estimates Working Group, comprising of councillors, to assist council officers in considering the estimates, as proposed by the current Council chairman, Stephen Huggett.

Before the new figures were considered and adopted at Monday night’s meeting, councillors congratulated the Chief Executive and senior officers on their efforts in keeping the rates as low as possible.

Councillor Frank Britton was one of the first to convey his congratulations, likening the unenviable task to that of ‘squaring a circle’.

“This I have to say has been the most difficult year to date. We have had unavoidable increases in refuse collection, refuse management and in building control budgets -- those areas have really hit us hard and we had no control over them. The result of that is we had an increase of £556,000 -- over half a million of increased costs which were unavoidable.

“We had to find a way of meeting that deficit through the work of officers of the council and staff and councillors.

“We had to look at all the services that this council provides and had to ensure that we can continue to deliver these services in an efficient and effective way. And, importantly, ensure that jobs are protected in this council.”

Despite the unavoidable costs, savings of £483,500 were identified across other Council services, leaving the additional cost of providing services to the ratepayer at £72,500.

The revenue cost of funding the new capital programme adds £97,000 to the rate base meaning an additional £170,000 has to be raised in rates for the 2011/12 financial year.

“Our savings were not enough to bring us to a zero rate increase -- but it brought us very close to it,” said Mr. Britton, “My understanding is that we are one of the lowest in terms of rates increases. We have traditionally raised one of the lowest across the 26 councils, and whilst in a time of terrible financial circumstances, we have done it again.”

The rates rise is considerably less than that set by Fermanagh’s neighbouring counterpart in Omagh District Council which struck a 1.35% increase in both domestic and non-domestic rates. Councillor John O’Kane said: “Let us thank God that the merge with our neighbouring council didn’t take place. We know what would have happened -- the rates would have gone up 20 plus per cent. The legacy of their debt would have landed on our heads. But it will happen yet -- that issue hasn’t gone away.”

UUP councillor, Alex Baird, urged that, as the campaign trail began ahead of the upcoming elections, councillors should remind constituents of their position on such a merge.

The estimates for 2011/12 include a capital programme of £5.4 million.

£777,000 of this is for investment in vehicles, plant and equipment whilst £4.63 million is earmarked for development of infrastructure in the County. In particular, £1.165 million is budgeted to complete a new workspace development at St Angelo airport, £650,000 for further development of the landfill facilty at Drummee, and £1 million for projects at Fermanagh County Museum and the Marble Arch Caves and European Geopark. Some of these projects are subject to receipt of grant.

Reflecting on the the adoption of the rates, chairman, Mr. Huggett, said it was a job well done. “What we have now is a base line where councillors can look next year and decide what they would like to see in terms of services and what we prepared to pay for.”

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 10 Feb 11

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