Councillor in call for rates freeze action

Councillor in call for rates freeze action

11 January 2012 - by DAVID TELFORD

LOCAL politicians are to be asked to back a proposal to use Down Council’s cash reserves to avoid large rates increases over the next three years.

Downpatrick councillor Cadogan Enright wants the local authority to release £4.3m from its cash reserves in the current financial year to allow the district rate to be frozen as people across the district struggle in the continuing economic recession.

His proposal — due to be tabled at the end of the month — calls for the council’s cash reserves to be reduced to the same level as Newry and Mourne Council (£0.6m), which Down is due to merge with in 2015 as part of the reorganisation of local government.

Councillor Enright says he does not believe Down Council should hand Newry and Mourne a “multi-million pound present” in the shape of its current financial reserves when both bodies merge in three years’ time.

In addition, the Downpatrick councillor wants the decommissioning of the local authority’s Drumanakelly landfill site near Seaforde reduced from 60 years to 30 years, arguing this could produce a saving of almost £2m in the current financial year.

Councillor Enright also believes the implementation of two renewable energy projects at the landfill site in the current or next financial year will release a further £1.9m into the budget.

He said the overall total of just over £8m he believes can be realised is in the region of 40 per cent of Down Council’s annual turnover and greater than projected rates increases.

Councillor Enright believes adopting his proposal would also allow the council to reverse many of the smaller frontline service cutbacks it introduced last year and avoid similar cutbacks over the next 12 months.

He added: “Current council estimates predict a double digit increase in rates over the next four years in the face of the worst recession since the 1930s. Down Council needs to take action to freeze rates for the next three years via the measures I have proposed.”