Trafford Council has approved its 2020-21 budget, confirming proposals to raise council tax by 3.99%.
The Labour-led administration said the rise – equivalent to an increase from £1567.47 to £1,643.03 for a typical Band D property – was necessary in order to plug a budget gap next year, and that without it there would be “insufficient funding” to pay for its services.
Overall, Trafford is planning to spend £175.2m, including £15.4m for demand-led services for children and adults and £5.1m for targeted support for vulnerable residents. There’s also £14.9m for major highways and other key infrastructure improvements and £4.8m for cycling and walking schemes.
Trafford Council leader Andrew Western it was a “revolutionary” budget.
“We’ve been faced with the choice of what we can do and what we must do,” he said. “We have to make difficult decisions. This budget is revolutionary and most welcome. I could not be prouder.”
The administration supported two Conservative amendments to the budget, which will see the installation of 100, 50-kilowatt electric vehicle charging points and 14 new covert cameras to catch fly-tippers.
In October we highlighted the dearth of charging points in the Altrincham area, despite the government having announced that the sale of new petrol and diesel-driven vehicles will be banned from 2035.
Cllr Patrick Myers, Shadow Executive Member at the Council for Finance and Investment, said: “Conservatives on the Council are delighted that these two important initiatives have been accepted by the Council. Having spoken with residents we know that those who already have an electric vehicle are concerned about the lack of availability of charging points in the borough, especially with the two points at Regent Road Car Park in Altrincham out of action.”
