By George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporting Service
PEOPLE in Tameside will pay almost five per cent more in council tax after a rise was approved.
Those in a typical band A property must meet an extra £1.17 per week and those in band D properties an extra £1.75 per week following the approval of the authority’s budget.
At the meeting of Full Council on Tuesday, March 4, an overall 4.99 per cent increase, including a two per cent adult social care precept, was voted through.
Its annual gross budget of £714 million delivers services including children’s social care, education and schools and waste collection, as well as Streetscene and green spaces.
Tameside Council says the budget includes additional investment for public health and frontline services such as road maintenance and street and town centre cleansing.
It supports its growth strategy, which is designed to increase housing supply and to boost the local economy in each town.
And it states it also commits money to drive substantial improvements and better outcomes for its most vulnerable residents, with it increasing its crisis fund by
Finance boss, Cllr Hugh Roderick, told how the tax rise is required to help the council invest in services and not doing so will end up with ‘a bailout from government.’
He said: “This is a starting point and lays a foundation to build back what our communities want to see.
“We cannot and will not let the challenges limit us. Residents, rightly, expect improvements in their services.
“It’s a fair question to ask, ‘Why do we have to increase council tax at the same time as we’re talking about record investment in services?’
“The harsh reality is we’re required by law to produce a balanced budget each year and the government has made it clear that delivery of our full spending power is contingent on local authorities maximising their own revenue through council tax, business rates and adult social care precept.
“If we don’t make the decision to increase council tax, not only do we decrease the amount of revenue we can raise, we also reduce the funding from government that will be available to us in following years.
“It will leave a gap that will have to have to be filled by further cuts or using reserves, in the most likely scenario, both.”
Council leader, Cllr Eleanor Wills, added: “I believe it will be a fair budget, a balanced budget and a budget that does the right thing for the right reasons.
“For every decision we have made to secure our financial sustainability, we have made two that will prioritise investment, put money into people’s pockets and unlock the potential that we know exists within Tameside.
“In my view, the right cause should always be the greater good and the future of Tameside.
“Together, we are writing a new story for our borough. We will leave no stone unturned to turn that story into a reality.”
The proposed use of reserves to prop up day to day council spending was criticised by Conservative Cllr Liam Billington, who accused Cllr Wills of making ‘vanity videos’ and proposed cuts to certain services.
He said: “Looking at the budget, there is a liberal use of the term ‘investments,’ but where is the investment in our borough? Our town centres? Keeping streets clean?
Tackling fly-tipping? Fixing potholes? Investing in our people through skills and attracting businesses?
“This budget doesn’t address these priorities our residents rightly ask. It lacks any vision whatsoever.
“We will also cut funding for interpreters, immigration charities, and minority interests.
“Council services can be accessed equally. If you come to this country, you respect our way of life and learn English. The taxpayer should not meet additional expenses from people who have yet to make a contribution to society.
“We will cut divisive woke DEI schemes across the council and partners. Schools will be
forced to focus on educational attainment and traditional values.
“As Tameside has some of the worst educational outcomes in the country, we will drive up aspiration by converting a failing secondary into a grammar school.
“We will grow business rates revenue with start-up incubation hub, reduce planning fees on quality office space to zero, so we attract more professional services to the borough.”
Independent Cllr Kaleel Khan chipped in by saying this tax rise is coming at a time when bills are already high for locals.
Here is a breakdown of the new council tax bill residents in each band will have to pay annually:
Band A: £1,274.66
Band B: £1,487.10
Band C: £1,699.54
Band D: £1,911.99
Band E: £2,336.87
Band F: £2,761.76
Band G: £3,186.65
Band H: £3,823.98
The actual figure residents pay will be slightly higher, though, with Greater Manchester precepts for police and fire services added on.
Where the £714 million of council cash will be spent in 2025/26
Schools – £113 million
Adult social care – £162 million
Children’s services – £138 million
Housing benefit – £56 million
Neighbourhoods – £46 million
Growth – £55 million
Levies – £34 million
Public health – £18 million