Council head justifies NI’s fourth largest rates hike

Council head justifies NI’s fourth largest rates hike

20 February 2013

DOWN Council chairman Mickey Coogan has defended the local authority’s decision to increase the district rate.

Combined with the regional rate, the total increase facing home and business owners across the district is 2.63 per cent. The hike is the fourth highest imposed by the Province’s 26 district councils.

Only Larne (2.84%), Castlereagh (2.99%) and Strabane (3.77%) are ahead of Down Council in the annual rates rise league table. Ballymoney, Belfast City and Dungannon and South Tyrone councils all froze their district rate.

Councillor Coogan  (right) said the 2.63 per cent increase which the district’s ratepayers face was once again below the level of inflation, but would crucially allow the local authority to continue to invest in the district.

He said a lot of hard work has been put in over the past three years to keep the annual increase below the level of inflation with the average rates increase over this period 1.5 per cent.

The council chairman said he accepts next year’s increase is “high” and admitted council officers realised this would be the case.

But councillor Coogan said when the council’s Rates Working Party met to discuss the budget for the new financial year last October, the predicted rates increase was around 14 per cent.

“A lot of hard work managed to reduce this, but the process to do so was not without pain,” he continued.

Councillor Coogan also claimed many councils kept their rates increases just below two per cent in a bid to secure a “favourable headline” in the media.

“Not all the projects we wanted to progress are included in next year’s budget, but it does provide for new multi-million pound leisure and community facilities in Downpatrick and Saintfield respectively.

“Down Council is also making a contribution to allow a £2m environmental improvement scheme to start in Ballynahinch and plans are in the pipeline for four new district playgrounds.”

The council chairman conceded that the rates increase would be hard on business owners across the district, many of whom are finding the going particularly tough at the moment.

He added: “By and large I believe the rates increase is acceptable and will allow the council to continue provide the statutory services it is obliged to and invest further in the district.

“We have many projects included in our capital programme which will allow our district to grow and provide new job opportunities. I believe Down Council is and will continue to provide its ratepayers with a value for money service.”