Sandwell tax promise

9:10am Sunday 4th January 2009

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Sandwell residents can expect a tax boost as councillors battle against the economic crisis.

In a special New Year message Sandwell council leader and Rowley councillor Bill Thomas said the tax rise next April will be less than the rate of inflation in order to offset the current financial downturn.

Sandwell has consistently had one of the lowest council tax rises in the West Midlands.

Cllr Thomas said business rates for the borough’s voluntary organisations would also be abolished in a bid to put hundreds of thousands of pounds back into the local economy.

Cllr Thomas said: "I can promise the people in Sandwell that this council will do everything it can to limit the effects of the current downturn in the national economy.

"As part of that I am giving the commitment that the council tax rise next year will be less than the rate of inflation thereby putting extra money into Sandwell residents' pockets.

"We have already instigated a policy of local jobs for local people and we are looking at bringing forward construction schemes to further assist employment."

Cllr Thomas said during next year he anticipated to see the start of the new police station in West Bromwich, the new college and the new underpass at All Saint's Way in West Bromwich.

"We will work closely with Sandwell Homes to continue the massive multi-million pound refurbishment of council homes in the borough.

"We have already started work on Lancaster House in Whiteheath in a £7 million mixed development scheme of high-rise flats and shops.

"We will assist with the development of the new multi-million pound hospital planned for Grove Lane in Smethwick and we will be working with partners to start new residential developments in North Smethwick, Rolfe Street and The Lyng in West Bromwich."