Rates rise kept to 3%

NORTH Down Borough Council has agreed to a 3% domestic rates increase this year - an annual rise of £12 for the average household.

Councillors approved the new rate for the 2010/11 financial year at a special corporate committee meeting on Tuesday night (9th).

Committee chairman Councillor Alan Graham described the rise as minimal. He said it had been set in a year where the council is making a record breaking capital investment in a new leisure centre for Bangor.

Addressing councillors, the DUP´s Mr Graham said, "Significant work has been done to ensure the council is well placed to manage the financial challenges presented by its ambitious capital expenditure plans over the next two years.

"Central to this is the construction of our new multimillion pound leisure centre, with Olympic sized swimming pool, due to commence in the next few months.

"This is the largest capital scheme that the council has ever undertaken and working with our partners, Sport NI, DCAL (Department for Culture, Arts & Leisure), we will be seeking to ensure successful delivery by Spring 2012."

Other key factors include funding the Green Road Community Centre at Conlig, due for completion by March 2010, three new playgrounds at Bloomfield, Breezemount and Redburn and development of the North Down costal path.

Proposing a 3% rise in both the domestic and commercial rate, Mr Graham added, "Thanks to effective working between councillors and officers and our continued commitment to deliver value for money for our ratepayers, I am delighted to announce that the 3% rise has been achieved."