Families in Copeland once again face Council Tax charges that have risen above the level of inflation. Those living in a Band D house will pay £1,402.93, an increase of £62.05 over last year, and those living in a Band A house will pay £935.29, an increase of £41.37. At the same time, some of the most needy members of the community face damaging cuts to the services they depend on. Some of the most hurtful changes, affecting elderly people, are a £1 increase in charges for meals on wheels, a £10 a day charge for day care, and a 50p an hour increase in charges for home care. Children with disabilities will be affected by entirely new charges. Families which cannot afford to buy school uniforms will suffer as a result of the abolition of the clothing grant. There will be a 10% cut in the opening hours of libraries and yet another reduction in highways maintenance will leave West Cumbrian roads in a sad state of disrepair.
The Conservative and Lib Dem administration blames all these cuts in services and inflation busting 4.99% increase in its charges on the potentially huge cost of claims for back pay under Equal Pay for Equal Value agreements, but this liability has been on the horizon for six years at least. It also attacks the government for its poor treatment of Cumbria, as it describes it, but it has in fact received an increase in government grant of 5.4%, the seventh highest of all shire counties.
The Labour Group on the County Council proposes an alternative budget, which would increase Council Tax charges by 2.9% instead of 5.9% and reverse most of the damaging cuts and increased charges. It would do this by using windfall savings to the Council resulting from changes in interest rates to offset the exceptional liabilities under Equal Value provision.
Even though it is Copeland Borough Council that has to collect the council tax Copeland only retains 12 %, which is only £ 2.07 a week from a Band A property, which is the majority of the properties in Egremont. The remainder of the charge goes to Cumbria County Council, with responsibility for Education, Social Services and road maintenance, who take 75% of the amount each family pays, and the Police Authority, who charge just over 12%.
Elaine Woodburn, is very pleased to report that Copeland has managed to stick to its commitment to raise its charges by no more than 2%, a little below the current level of inflation. This increase equates to 4 pence a week on a Band A property and 6 pence a week on a Band D property. She takes even more satisfaction from the fact that the council has taken notice of the priorities identified by community focus groups. "We are pleased that we have been able to continue with the concessionary travel scheme which allows free 24/7 travel throughout Cumbria for those who are eligible. We are also issuing railcards for those who would prefer reduced train travel, as a trial project."
The council is also extending the kerbside collection scheme to include more houses and putting more money into the regeneration of Egremont and area, where we have already witnessed building improvements on the Main Street, and it has made a donation to the Moor Row Hiker. It is continuing to offer free pest control for domestic properties and has made no increase to the car park charges in areas, like Egremont, which are trying to regenerate. It is always difficult to preserve the services that people want while keeping taxes down to the minimum, but again through good financial management and with the support of councillors from all political groups the council has kept the increase to a minimum while making enhancements that will benefit Egremont and area.