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JA M E S L A K E L A N D
Vol 27 l Issue 10
4 March 2020
Tel: 01704 569697 5 WELD PARADE, BIRKDALE VILLAGE, PR8 2DT
J U S T W H I T E • L AT T E
ORMSKIRK & WEST LANCASHIRE
L E B E K • P O M O D O R O • P I C A D I L LY
s r a e Y 6 2 g n i t Celebr a
COUNCIL TAX TO RISE BY 3.85% Report by Henry James COUN CIL Tax bills in the borough are set to rise by 3.85% after West Lancs Council revealed its budget for the year ahead. A Conservative group proposal to freeze Council Tax was defeated, while Our West Lancashire expressed disappointment about measures relating to climate and the environment. Following the announcement, council chiefs said they were “working hard to meet financial challenges and provide the services local people need.” They claimed that during the last 10 years the borough council had shown “great financial prudence and innovation” to generate additional income and savings worth more than 30% of its budget in the face of reductions in government funding And they said a new ‘Sustainable Organisation Review’ has built on that “sound financial work” and is now being implemented to help the council become self-financing over the next three years. It is claimed this will generate income, efficiencies and savings worth £1.9 million a year while helping to change to a new
Authority says budget will maintain front-line services despite financial challenges
neighbourhood approach to providing many services. And the council said this new structure has enabled it to set a budget which will maintain front-line services while investing in the following projects: l Increased funding for the planting of new trees. l More electric car charging points in the borough. l Replacement litter bins for those in poor condition and additional litter bins to be installed in areas of high usage. l Educational programmes regarding litter. l More funding for play area improvements. l Extra funding to promote Ormskirk Market. Councillor Adam Yates, cabinet member for transformation and resources, said: “The council has done well to meet the financial challenges it has faced. “We are working to become self-financing in the future and we will continue to manage our finances well to ensure we can maintain frontline
Established 41 Years
Councillor Adam Yates.
services and fund important new initiatives for the people of the borough.” The Council Tax for West Lancashire Borough Council, for the Government-designated ‘average’ Band D property in 2020/21 will be £208.39 per year, or around £4.01 a week. However, most of the properties in the borough are designated Band A or B and so will pay less than this. Around 11% of the Council Tax goes
to the borough council. The total Council Tax includes charges from Lancashire County Council, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and Lancashire Constabulary. The Council Tax for some areas will also include a parish council precept. The bills for ‘average’ Band D properties, excluding parish council precepts, are as follows with last year ’s figures and the percentage change in brackets: West Lancs Borough Council £208.39 (£203.39 +2.46%). Lancs County Council - £1,400.32 (£1,346.59 + 3.99%). Lancs Combined Fire Authority £70.86 (£69.48 +1.99%). Lancs Police Authority - £211.45 (£201.45 + 4.96%). Total - £1,891.02 (£1,820.91 +3.85%). Labour used their majority to vote down a Conservative proposal to freeze Council Tax. Conservative group leader, Councillor David Westley, said: “We presented an alternative budget that was fully costed, vetted by the borough treasurer, proposed a Council Tax freeze Continued inside
Arson attack suspected at Mere Sands Wood reserve POLICE are investigating a suspected arson attack at a nature reserve in Rufford. A staff member was leaving the Mere Sands Wood Reserve on Holmeswood Road at about 4.30pm on Sunday (March 1) when he spotted smoke arising from one of the hides. However the fire service had already been alerted to the blaze and three units were sent to the scene. A spokesperson for the reserve, which is managed by the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester & N orth Merseyside, said that the popular Cyril Gibbons Hide - one of the largest on the site - had been destroyed He added: “A colleague was leaving the site on Sunday at 4.30pm when he noticed fire about 200 yards from the main visitor centre. He went down to investigate but someone in the village must have noticed it as well because the fire services were on the way. “Three fire engines arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire but the hide is completely destroyed and now there is just a pile of embers on the floor.” It is believed the wooden, chalet-type construction would cost in excess of £10,000 to replace. The spokesperson said that as well reducing facilities available to visitors, the attack meant that security would have to be stepped up at the site. “There is anxiety that it could potentially happen to any other hides.” A statement by Lancashire Fire and Rescue read: “Two fire engines from Ormskirk and Tarleton were called to a fire on Holmeswood Road, Rufford. Firefighters used one hose reel and a light portable pump to extinguish the fire. A joint police and fire investigation is now underway.” A spokesperson for Lancashire Police confirmed that they are investigating a suspected arson.
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