Walsall council taxpayers face £60 rise in bills
A council tax rise of just under four per cent has been narrowly passed in Walsall along with plans to fork out more than £3.5 million on an IT overhaul, £2.5 million towards new rail stations, and £200,000 on new seats for the council chamber.
Walsall Council came to a deadlock when voting over the budget proposals at its full council meeting, so Mayor Marco Longhi had to use his casting vote to pass the plans.
It includes capital spend of more than £1.3m on the civic centre windows, more than £2m on the council house's heating and £200,000 on the council chamber and committee room's seating and audio visual technology.
The authority looks to spend £2.5m towards new rail stations at Willenhall, Darlaston and Aldridge.
And major investment is planned on reviewing computer equipment and upgrading servers over the next three years, despite dire warnings that the authority is facing a financial crisis and needs to make £20m in savings.
The authority’s part of council tax will rise by 3.99 per cent, which will see annual bills for people living in Band D properties rise from the current £1,648.71 to £1,714.49 – or £1.27 per week.
The weekly increase for people living in Band A properties – which a large number of Walsall residents live in – would be 84p per week.
Tory council leader Mike Bird said: "We're all having to do more with less and we have to look at innovative ways to attract income for the council."
Opposition leader Sean Coughlan said setting the budget gets "worse year on year".
He said: "We will be voting against the budget. You want to spend £250,000 for consultants to do a masterplan, and £200,000 for this chamber. People will suffer from this budget."
Labour councillor Mohammad Nazir said services should be protected such as healthcare, social services and education.
He said: "I understand the council has to balance the books, but equally we should protect social services, healthcare and education."
And Labour's councillor Lee Jeavons said: "It doesn't mater how well these seats are upholstered we won't sit comfortably."
Councillor Bird responded saying the council chamber is a listed building and has not had any money spent on it in 100 years.
He said: "If we can't keep our listed building in order, what chance have we got in taking people to court over their listed buildings?"
