Calderdale Council has frozen its Council Tax for a second consecutive year after the Council approved the budget on Monday 23 February 2015 at Halifax Town Hall. The budget covers the next three financial years, from 2015/16 to 2017/18 and includes measures which will boost tourism and economic growth.
Halifax Borough Market and Todmorden Market Hall will receive an additional investment of £500,000; and a £200,000 contribution to the Economic Investment Fund will be used to promote local job opportunities in tourism and business development.
To tackle cold homes, which have been linked to ill health and winter deaths, the Council will launch a £1.4 million affordable warmth scheme providing grants to improve heating and insulation. The Council has also set itself an ambitious target of reducing its energy use by 20% with any investment needed being funded by the energy cost savings produced.
Annual funding of £100,000 has been restored to provide short breaks for disabled children and the OrangeBox Centre will receive a £35,000 grant from the Council to enable it to continue to offer support to young people through a range of activities.
Leader of Calderdale Council, Cllr Stephen Baines said:
“Although our budget is still under pressure I am delighted that we have been able to freeze Council Tax for a further year, and that we have been able to include measures which will stimulate business growth, so vital to our local economy.
“We have also continued to protect those essential services which support the most vulnerable people in our community.”
The Council has already consulted on the savings plans for the financial years 2015/16 and 2016/17, as part of the budget processes in 2013 and 2014.
Later this year the Council will begin a detailed public consultation to help identify savings of £9.6 million which must be made by 2017/18.
The full budget can be viewed at www.calderdale.gov.uk/budget