Mid and East Antrim Council in ‘best possible position’ to deal with pandemic-related financial issues
According to the borough council’s head of finance, the gross annual budget is almost £68m. Of this, 73 per cent or almost £50m is funded by domestic and business rates.
A report to council stated: “From the beginning of the Covid-19 emergency the chief financial officer has ensured that the council are in the best possible position to deal with all financial issues arising from the emergency.”
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHowever, councillors were told this has “resulted in some far-reaching and difficult decisions”. During a meeting of the borough council remotely on Monday evening, they were briefed behind closed doors by chief executive Anne Donaghy about financial pressures facing the local authority.
They have also been advised “the focus remains to strike a sustainable rate for the borough”.
Councillors were also told the “full amount of rates will be covered for 20/21 by the Department if there is a shortfall whether business or domestic rates from non-payment”.
However, they were informed the Department (for Communities) has “given no indication at this stage that it will the same level of protection in relation to unpaid business or domestic rates for the year ahead”.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdBannside TUV Councillor Timothy Gaston said: “It is good to see this on the agenda early in the year. I believe we should look at revenue first. We heard in closed council the difficulties that exist with Covid.”
In February, rates were struck by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council which saw a 1.74 per cent increase in domestic bills and a 2.9 per cent increase in non-domestic bills (read more here)
The council said the rate was aimed at “mitigating the financial burden on residents and businesses whilst ensuring high quality frontline services and the delivery of major investments planned in Mid and East Antrim”.
The amalgamated Mid and East Antrim Council inherited a debt of £67m which has been reduced to £63m.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe council’s portion of the rates amounts to 48 per cent of the rates bills received by residents and businesses in Mid and East Antrim with the remainder set by the Stormont Executive.
Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter.
--
A message from the Editor:
Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.
In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper whenever you are able to do so.
Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdWith the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper when you can safely.
You can also enjoy unlimited access to the best news from across Northern Ireland and the UK by subscribing to newsletter.co.uk
With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.