Hyndburn Council approves maximum 2.99% council tax rise

The three-hour debate at Accrington Town Hall on Tuesday night also saw eight Labour-inspired amendments to the borough budget defeated.

The rise follows Lancashire County Council - which provides key services including education, highways and children's an adult social care - approving a maximum 4.99 per cent rise last week.

With this increase - and rises in the special levies to pay for the police and fire services - a typical Band A terraced house in Hyndburn will pay a total council tax bill of £1,513.23 in the year from April 1.

The new annual figure for a Band D semi-detached family home for 2024/25 is £2,269.85. Properties in Altham will pay a small extra parish council precept.

Lancashire's Conservative police and crime commissioner Andrew Snowden has also hiked his police precept by 4.75 per cent.

Burnley and Rossendale Councils are both also planning a maximum 2.99 per cent rise to their council tax, and Blackburn with Darwen Council - not part of LCC - is also putting up its council tax by the maximum 4.99 per cent.

Moving the Conservative administration's budget, acting council leader and finance boss, Cllr Peter Britcliffe, said: "We have laid the foundations of an unprecedented regeneration of the borough.

"The direction is set and we now proposed to stay on track with a package that will continue to invest in our people, our regeneration and our future."

Cllr Peter Britcliffe called Labour's amendments barking

The meeting rejected three Labour-inspired amendments endorsed by the council's Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which aimed to spend £36,000 on joining the Local Government Association 'Pathway to Planning' graduate recruitment programme; to increase the grant to the Citizens' Advice Bureau in 2024/25 by £10,000; and to place a skip in every ward twice a year for community clean ups at a cost of £19,000.

Councillors then voted down a further five Labour group amendments: to develop a new policy framework for houses in multiple occupation and small care homes at a cost of £25,000; to remove 'the rat tax' and return the pest control service to being free costing £10,000; to create 'Bark Parks' for dog owners on spare council land; to review the borough's housing stock before a bid to become a pilot area for retro-fitting 'green' improvements at a cost of £50,000; and implementing a community energy programme costing £50,000

Labour group leader Cllr Munsif Dad said: "These amendments focus on residents' concerns and would have made a tangible difference in Hyndburn's townships.

"Let us champion initiatives that promote a cleaner, greener, and more prosperous future for Hyndburn."

Labour's Noordad Aziz said Peter Britcliffe has gone back on his word

Labour finance spokesperson Cllr Noordad Aziz: "The 2.99 per cent increase in council tax contradicts previous assurances by Cllr Britcliffe, who initially stated it would only be a rise of two per cent.

"At a time when Hyndburn residents are grappling with a cost of living crisis, caused by the Conservative government crashing the economy, this means further residents having to make the difficult choice eating or heating.

"In summary, the Conservative-led budget falls short of addressing the pressing needs of Hyndburn residents and instead reflects a lack of vision and ambition."

Cllr Britcliffe said: "The Labour amendments are like the Labour group itself, simply barking.

"We cannot trust the costings. What would they take out of the budget to pay for them?"

The meeting also saw the return of borough leader Cllr Marlene Haworth to council business following recovery from a stroke in December, but she told councillors she was not yet fit to take up her leadership duties.