The Citizen 44

The Citizen 44 - Page 1

Home -> Council and democracy -> Council news -> News or press releases

The Tameside Citizen logo
Ashton-Under-Lyne Audenshaw Denton Droylsden Dukinfield Hyde Longdendale Mossley Stalybridge

Nominate a Tameside Citizen to feature?
Or tell us about your news?

tell us your views The Tameside Citizen is your quarterly newspaper from Tameside Council. We welcome your ideas and opinions.

It is distributed to every address in Tameside by Royal Mail.

Get in touch with us by ringing tel. 0161 342 3084.

A peoples budget

2008/09 budget sees more funding for priorities plus a low council tax rise

Image showing the breakdown of this year's Council Tax Tameside's part of the Council Tax level was set at a 2.42 per cent increase at the recent budget announcement meeting.

Executive Council Leader Cllr Roy Oldham explained that with the fire and police precepts this figure was pushed up to 2.93 per cent, still well below the five per cent ceiling imposed on all local authorities by central government.

In a speech to authority’s Full Council meeting Cllr Oldham detailed the areas which would continue to enjoy increased investment in line with what the public say are their priorities – education, appearance of the borough, community safety and the economy.

Cllr Oldham said: “We have always worked closely with the people of Tameside to deliver what they want to see and will continue to do so. But it’s not just us who appreciate this relationship the Audit Commission recognised it too when they said: ‘Tameside Council is improving strongly and continues to make significant improvements in its priority areas. Not only is performance consistently high but it is improving even further in areas that local people say are important’.”

He added: “As has come to be expected with this council now, alongside the low Council Tax rise, which will not rise by more than nine per cent over the next three years, there is planned growth and improvements across all service areas. In fact the onward slogan of Tameside, quoted again at November’s State of the Area debate is attended to alongside the people’s priorities. In other words the maintenance of a Safe, Clean, Green, Prosperous, Healthy, Learning Borough.”

The budget was put to the vote and agreed by the whole chamber except for the main opposition who decided to abstain.

In education the passporting of the full grants budget onto schools and the extensive new build and refurbishments of the borough’s schools is starting to take affect and once again it is planned that the service will receive nearly £2M of extra council funding to continue the impressive work.

The meeting heard that a new precept formula had been agreed with the police which means an extra £3.15M of funding for them over the next three years from Tameside.

Cllr Oldham said: “The police establishment for Tameside is at full strength and there is no truth in a reduction of 40 officers. Crime has been reduced by seven per cent, the best performance in Greater Manchester. So crime in Tameside is down and falling following a 38 per cent increase in mainstream funding.”

This year will also see extra funding for the elderly and vulnerable to continue the excellent work carried out for the service which has culminated in a maximum rating for its delivery of services.

Culture and heritage is also set for a cash injection of some £5M, while a million pounds of extra funding will also boost youth provision coffers.

Of the overall £325M budget over half is dedicated to education. The percentage breakdown is:

Education 51.2 per cent
Older people 17.2 per cent
Housing 1.5 per cent
Highways 2.8 per cent
Economic growth 0.6 per cent
Passenger transport 4.1 per cent
Community safety 5.7 per cent
District assemblies 3.4 per cent
Sports and leisure 2.4 per cent
Waste disposal 2.9 per cent
Youth provision/children services 6.2 per cent

Cllr Oldham concluded by saying: “This budget reflects and recognises the majority of Tameside people’s priorities and requirements. It is essentially a ‘people’s budget’ providing improvement to the area and to the services.

“We are doing well but there is still so much more to do on this never ending improvement programme of betterment.”

Budget breakdown

Anti-social behaviour/street crime: investment in GMP and CCTV making the streets even safer. A residential survey revealed that 95 per cent of people said their neighbourhood felt safe.	Youth provision and improving health: investment into leisure and sporting facilities will be further enhanced with the facilities available to the community from the new high school building programme.
Older and vulnerable people: added investment into adaptations to enable people to stay in their homes even when disabled or ill. The service was recently given a “it’s-as-good-as-it-gets” 3 start rating by the Audit Commission.	The people’s heritage: funding for community control of the theatre, new street art, library improvements at Hyde and Denton, and visitor attractions will be available.
The highways: a full survey is underway to ascertain costs and programme necessary work, while the district assemblies budget is also set to be increase.	The environment: funding will be made available for ‘In Bloom’ and complete coverage of recycling bins for every household that can take them, while money will be made available for Stamford and Dukinfield Parks restoration work.
Education attainment: dramatic improvements in attainment at all stages have occurred following a massive investment in buildings and equipment.	Economic regeneration: Hattersley, Denton civic square, St Petersfield, Ashton Moss, Droylsden Canalside, Longlands Mill, Stalybridge have all seen massive change bringing thousands of jobs to the area for the borough’s residents.