Issue 50
DOUBLE BLOW FOR STOCKPORT RESIDENTS? Plans for 3.99% Council Tax rise and three-weekly rubbish collections
lHAR-BIN-GER OF DOOM: Will three-weekly rubbish collections be enough for Stockport residents?
Stockport Council are said to be planning a 3.99% Council Tax rise for 2017-2018. With almost six months before the bills come out, the alleged hike will come as a shock for Stockport tax payers. But with the council under pressure to make further cuts, it is not likely to be the only big shake up next year. They raised council tax for 2016/17 by 3.75 per cent in April. They are now proposing a further 3.99 per cent rise next April - the maximum possible - as they battle to find another £13m in cuts.
Rubbish
There are also plans to reduce collections of black refuse bins for household rubbish to three-weekly instead of the current fortnightly arrangement - a move which could save £1m. However it will almost certainly prove to be as unpopular as the Council tax increase with many residents already finding it hard to cope with the current collections.
Preferred
Council leader Alex Ganotis said the early council tax proposal was intended to give residents the longest possible chance to have their say, rather than announce it last minute as other councils have done. He said: “We’re not saying we’re definitely going to do this, but it is our preferred option.”