Budget 2007/08

2007/08 budget sees more funding for priorities plus a low council tax rise.

Tameside's part of the Council Tax level was set at a 2.73 per cent increase at last month's budget announcement meeting.

Executive Council Leader Cllr Roy Oldham explained that with the fire and police precepts this figure was pushed up to 2.96 per cent, still well below the five per cent ceiling imposed on all local authorities by central government and the current rate of inflation.

In a speech to the authority's full council meeting Cllr Oldham detailed the areas where increased investment would continue in line with what the public say are their priorities - education, appearance of the borough, community safety and employment.

The budget was put to the vote and agreed by the whole of the council except the main opposition who took the decision to abstain.

For education the council has spent above government guidelines for many years, ensuring a permanently higher level of grant for schools. While for community safety additional funds will be provided for CCTV and alleygating.

This year will also see more money spent on the appearance of the borough. Improved recycling facilities, managed collections, extra funding for improved highway maintenance and greater provision for the council's highly successful In Bloom. Keeping with the environmental theme two million energy-efficient lightbulbs are also available free of charge to the public, plus they may also be in-line for a £50 cut to their Council Tax payment.

The Economic Development Zone, Ashton Moss, Droylsden Canalside and Henry Square are all examples of areas where council resources have been used to complement private sector development, creating job opportunities for the borough's residents.

Of the £294.67M budget for 2007/08 a rough breakdown (in millions) shows:

• Education £157.5
• Children's services £17.8
• Adult social care £48.2
• District Assemblies £11
• Roads £8.8
• Passenger transport £12.8
• Housing £3.4
• Recreation £7.4
• Planning and econ development £3.5
• Waste disposal and collection £12.1
• Environmental health £3.2
• Libraries and community safety £5.7

Cllr Oldham said: "Once again I think this budget clearly demonstrates that, as a council, we are listening to and acting upon what residents tell us are their priorities.

"It is my belief that this comprehensive and sound budget with finances being converted into practical service provision, while maintaining an impressively low Council Tax is an outstanding achievement and something we can all be proud of.

"It is unfortunate that once again the Conservatives where the only group not to vote in favour of the budget choosing to abstain instead."

Officially the Best

Tameside is officially the best performing council in the North West and the first metropolitan borough in the country to achieve a Charter Mark.

In this year's annual Comprehensive Performance Assessment, Tameside is the only council in the North West to receive the top rating of four stars, with a judgement of ‘improving strongly' - a rating given to only a handful of authorities nationally.

Tameside, according to Audit Commission inspectors, is delivering "significant" improvements to services for local people across its priorities. And its overall performance is "better and rising faster" than similar councils.

More on the Charter Mark Award.

Budget highlights...

Below are listed just some of the highlights of the Executive Leader's budget setting speech. They, as ever, cover what the public have told the council are their priorities - education, environment, economy and community safety.

In his speech Cllr Oldham thanked the borough treasurer and said the council's in a "strong financial position capable of meeting the extra obligations such as Equal Pay, which has cost over £22M, but has rocked and nearly ruined many councils across the country."

He talked about the local Carbon Management Plan, which partners the council with the community and business to minimise their emissions while reducing energy use and costs.
He said: "The energy manager and other officers will work to the these goals. Clearly, recycling of waste products play their part in the objectives and to connect the activities, the council has a proposal.

"A docket has been issued in each Council Tax bill, which will impress on all the need to act now, save energy and recycle. If the recipient signs the docket and brings it to a council building, it will be exchanged for twofree low energy light bulbs. This could amount to 200,000 bulbs. In addition, should they sign up for cavity and loft insulation (with British Gas) £50 will be paid against their Council Tax."

Education

• £6.4M increase to schools' budget (5%) rising to £133M (plus other specific grants, an 8.4% increase in total
• £1.4M towards Building Schools for the Future
• Construction and completion of six children's centres £2.8M
• Final phase of the build of a new school for Aldwyn & Hawthorns£4.7M
• Funding to continue the building of new schools at Dukinfield and Lyndhurst £7.8M
• Funding for extensions to both Russell Scott and Dane Bank Schools £2.1M
• Continuation of the modernisation and planned school repairs £1.4M

Community Safety

• PACT~PLUS - to pay for local accommodation. Tackling alcohol related disorders and prosecuting under-age sales
• Crime reduction projects such as Alley-gating and CCTV
• Additional street lighting
• Anti-social Behaviour Unit
• Youth Offending Team
• Drugs Strategy & Action Team
• Building safer communities
• Patroller service and decriminalisation of parking

Economic Development

• Ashton Market Hall rebuild £8.4M
• Ashton Commissioning Project £1.6M
• Historic Building Fund £68,000
• Refurbishment of Transport Depot £80,000
• Droylsden Canal side Quarter Funding to completion £4.7M
• Hattersley/Mottram area regeneration
• Henry Square to final build £3.7M
• Refurbishment of Stamford Park (plus Lottery Bid) £1M
• Sports Trust £1.05M
• Backlog maintenance of council buildings (with energy £500,000 efficiency)
• Ashton Northern Bypass land acquisition £1.1M
• Glossop Spur related to Longdendale Bypass
• SEMMS road improvements

Environment

• Reconstruction of Denton Nurseries £250,000
• Cemetery footpath repair £73,000
• Recycling managed house collections
• Additional funding for In-Bloom (DA) £64,000
• Eco-friendly and efficiency activities
• Electro Diesel vehicle leases £8,000
• Energy monitoring and remote metering £54,000
• Low energy street lighting system
• Eco-diesel fuel for the transport fleet
• Free fares for the over 60's

More on What We Spend.