Council strikes rate

BALLYMENA Councillors met last night (Monday) in the Braid and agreed a 2.29% rise in the annual rates, one of the borough’s lowest rate increases for some years.

On the proposal of Cllr Tommy Nicholl, seconded by Cllr Paul Frew, members struck a district domestic rate of 0.3758 pence and a district non-domestic rate of 27.2042 pence, which both represent a rise of 2.29% for the coming year.

It was pointed out at the outset of the meeting that Council recognised that the rate struck needed to secure continued investment and growth across the borough and ensure that Council continued to provide a wide range of frontline services to citizens.

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Mayor, Cllr Hubert Nicholl said: “In recognition of the economic climate, Councillors and Officers have worked hard over the last number of months to deliver this rate, which is significantly less than the rate of inflation. The outworkings of the three year Business Improvement & Efficiency Strategy commenced by Council in the current financial year have allowed increased, unavoidable costs to be absorbed by services without asking the ratepayer to pay in the form of additional rates.

“I feel,” he added, “that the approach adopted represents a sensible balance between keeping the rates as low as possible, whilst still providing a broad range of services to the public and continuing the development and investment in our facilities and services to provide for future growth in the borough”.

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