ARDS STRIKES LOWEST RATE IN 6 YEARS

For the sixth year in a row, Ards Borough Council's rate increase has reduced.

At a meeting on 12th February, the Council agreed an increase of 3.49%, below the rate of inflation and expected to be one of the lowest in Northern Ireland.

Proposing the new rate, Deputy Mayor of Ards, Councillor Jim Fletcher said:

"The need to ensure that we keep any rise in the rate to the absolute minimum, while still providing the quality, value-for-money services and facilities, which the people of the Ards deserve, is always to the forefront of our minds. Achieving the balance is difficult. This is particularly the case when you consider that we had to contend with additional costs of more than £1.5 Million, which were imposed on us from outside and therefore which were outside our control.

"The Council is constantly monitoring and reviewing its expenditure, examining how money is spent and seeking to optimise value for that money. This is sound business practice, and one which although self-imposed has resulted in over 3% efficiency savings each and every year for the last five years. 2008/09 is no exception. This is an indication of the Council's financial prudence, as is the fact that we have also managed to reduce the rates increase which we forecast in our 3 year Financial Plan".

The proposal was seconded by Chairman of the Rates Sub-Committee, Councillor Simon Hamilton, and accepted unanimously by the Council.

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