A BUDGET for better homes, more good jobs and increased security was how Burnley's council tax rise of 6.5 per cent was described when it was agreed by the council last night.
Best value and resources executive member Coun Peter Kenyon said the task force investigating last summer's disturbances had said there were big issues to tackle, adding: "It is time to get on with building a better Burnley."
Council tax payers will have to pay an overall increase of 7.7 per cent when the Lancashire County Council and Police Authority figures are added.
An amendment by the Conservative group for a zero rise in Burnley's share of the council tax was defeated by the ruling Labour group and Lib-Dem councillors.
Tory leader Peter Doyle said the nil rise could be achieved by saving £301,666 by increasing the amount charged for council tax court summonses from £35 to £70 per cent, reducing the amount targeted for pay increases in Leisure for Burnley from £70,000 to £15,000 and by deleting nine of the 50 vacant council posts.
Independent group leader John Lloyd referred to the budget as more "doom and gloom".
Coun Kenyon highlighted £10million of improvements and major initiatives to take forward key Task Force recommendations.
He stressed the year's top priority of spending £2million to improve areas in Burnley Wood and Accrington Road.
He said they would also be spending £1million on housing schemes in Stoneyhome and Daneshouse.
"This is not favouritism, it is recognition of deprivation and need, just as previous capital spending in South West Burnley and the central renewal area in Bank Hall and Fulledge was a recognition of need," he said.
He announced the setting up of a pot of £150,000, the first borough-wide fund of its kind, to fund key small projects such as putting gates in alleyways and back street lighting.
Coun Kenyon also spoke of £2million to create a technology centre to create more and better jobs in the town, new facilities for teenagers, supporting the creation of a new building at Burnley Youth Theatre and extension of CCTV schemes and subway improvements.
The budget also included £100,000 to tackle issues raised by the Task Force to fund additional race relations work, recruitment of more staff to support council leadership and the executive and the creation of a permanent corporate communications unit.
On the controversial changes to the borough's play schemes he said it had been the target of a campaign of misrepresentation descrbing it simply as cuts.
The number of play sessions would hardly change. There were inevitable consequences for the staff but there would be very little impact for users, he said.
Coun Kenyon added: "In cash terms it amounts to an extra 23p per week at band D or only 15p a week for the majority of Burnley residents who live in band A property."
Coun Doyle lost amendments for the zero rise and a cut of £50,000 in grants given to the town's three advice groups.
But his call for a strategy for the prompt issue of invoices was agreed after he reported cases of delays of up to four months in bills being received for council services and which he said was costing the authority thousands of pounds in interest charges.
Valuation bands: A £748.34; B £873.08; C £997.79; D £1122.52; E £1371.96; F £1621.42; G £1870.86; H £2245.04.
By DAVID AYRTON
'Tackling the big issues'
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