After a meeting which began around 7pm and ran to near midnight yesterday, Causeway Council failed to strike rates…AGAIN!
Following a meeting on February 4th where the striking of rates were first rescheduled while council sought assistance from an independent consultants, yet again at last nights special council meeting a decision wasn’t reached.
Instead Councillors will meet tonight (Thursday February 13th), to try yet again to agree for a third time as to the rate figures.
Cllr John McAuley spoke about the failed proposals put forward by his party the DUP and other unionists from the UUP yesterday evening:
“With only 3 days to go before the legal deadline for striking the council rate, we have failed to reach agreement at a lengthy Council Meeting tonight.
“Despite many difficult and unpalatable decisions being made, both the DUP and UUP failed to secure a majority on their proposals which would have risen the domestic rate by 7.64% or 6.9%, which in money terms equates to less than 4p/£1 on a household bill, whilst securing a 0% business rate.
“This would also have kept the average rate rise below inflation since the formation of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, albeit a big hit in one year.
“These proposals, were not easy for either party to make but unfortunately coupled with the cost savings and reform measures implemented to ensure we are not in this position again, we felt there was no other option at this stage than, step up to the mark and show leadership in order to protect frontline services and event funding including the North West 200, Supercup NI and The Portrush Pipe Band Championships.”
We now return tomorrow night and go again, hoping that those who voted against us will be willing to put feasible alternative options on the table, which notibly didnt happen tonight.
