Labour Pass 3.5% Rise in Rochdale’s Council Tax!

ROCHDALE'S Labour dominated Council has been accused of"betraying" local taxpayers as it passed plans to increase Council Tax by a staggering 3.5%.

The increase comes after EVERY Labour councillor voted NOT to accept the Government's offer of extra finance so that the council could FREEZE their tax for a 3rd successive year!

The Government had also demanded that any council that increased it's tax by more than 2% should put their spending plans to a public vote. Labour in Rochdale ignored this requirement by exploiting a "loophole" that allowed them to ignore money spent by the Labour controlled Gtr.Manchester Waste Disposal Authority. Who, despite having closed the Peel Lane Tip, have increased their bill to Heywood residents by 19%.

Cllr Peter Rush commented: "With no council elections this year Labour councillors have deliberately set a budget that is one of the highest in our Region. They have ignored the Governments offer to help freeze bills for a third year, choosing instead to extract the maximum cash possible from local residents. This is a shameful betrayal of Heywood and Rochdale tax payers by Labour councillors at a time when every penny counts."