Lowest overall council tax in Lancashire expected as Blackburn with Darwen budget plans revealed

Blackburn with Darwen Council looks set to agree the lowest overall council tax in Lancashire. The overall increase has been limited to just 1.95 per cent–the lowest in the county for the second year running.

The basic annual bill for the coming year for the average Band D household in the borough is likely to be set at £1,243.22 (excluding police and fire charges which are the same across Lancs).

The decision will be taken on Monday, March 2 at the Finance Council meeting.

Councillor Mike Lee, leader of the ruling Conservative, Liberal Democrat and For Darwen partnership, said: “We have done this while maintaining our promise to deliver quality, value for money services. Millions of pounds will be invested in projects and facilities which will have a long and lasting legacy - shaping a better Blackburn with Darwen for today’s and future generations.

“Our Council has a key support role to play in the current difficult economic times. We are also confident that the investments plans will help insulate businesses from the full effects of the downturn.”

The Audit Commission recently awarded the Council the highest possible ‘four star’ rating and judged it to be “performing strongly”. Educational attainment is at a record high, crime is down and residents are accessing free leisure for the first time. The Pennine Lancashire Multi Area Agreement (MAA) was formally signed by the prime minister in January further strengthening a co-ordinated approach to delivering priorities.

“The Council is responsible for providing more than 800 services. There is always more that can be done to improve these, offer further good value for money and enhance performance,” added Councillor Lee.

“Our commitment – shared with partners across the local area - remains to focus on the issues and services that we believe make the biggest difference to your lives ranging from social care and safeguarding children to community safety and strengthening neighbourhood and tackling poor health.”

The Council’s budget this year is £386.8m (around 40 per cent of it comes from council tax). The planned main projects and developments for the year and beyond where relevant include:

- skills development as part of the £6m investment programme targeted at addressing worklessness
- investing £500k to improve highway maintenance and significant new road schemes including the Furthergate Link Road
- continuation of joint Council and NHS Blackburn with Darwen £2m annual investment to improve the health and wellbeing of people living in the borough
- investing in outdoor space including large scale enhancement of Witton Park
- significant improvements to Darwen Railway Station
- regeneration of the cathedral quarter
- the Building Schools for the Future programme is set to transform secondary education and put schools at the heart of the community.
- spending £250,000 for the five neighbourhoods to determine their own priorities.
- taking ownership of Turton Tower the borough’s only grade 1 listed building

A cross section of people in the borough were surveyed using a points system to show which service areas they would like to see either a reduction or a increase in levels of spending. The findings – reflected in the proposed budget plans - highlighted community safety and environmental improvements as priorities.