Wyre Council has decided to follow the government’s lead, raising council tax by £5.63 a year on a Band D home, an increase of just under 11p per week.



Wyre’s budget and council tax for the year ahead were approved at a meeting of Full Council on Thursday 8 March.

Councillor David Henderson, Leader of Wyre Council comments:

“Last year the government announced they would allow districts to increase council tax by up to 3% per year and by adopting this approach we are able to maximise our spending power whilst keeping costs low for residents. Going forward we will continue to provide Wyre’s vital front line services for 53p per day.

“This year we have received a reduction in funding from the Government of £356,000 or 9%. Over the last eight years we have lost £6.7m in funding which is the equivalent of 75% of our grant back in 2010/11. We have prepared for such financial challenges and have saved over £5.6m since 2010, an average of £808,000 efficiency savings per year.

“However, we have continued to make significant achievements through protecting and improving council services. We have secured new business investment at Hillhouse and are looking forward to the employment opportunities that will follow.

“We are continuing to work on the restoration of the Mount in Fleetwood and are developing a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund to transform its landward side. We will soon begin work on improving King George’s playing field in Thornton thanks to a grant of £30,000 from the Lancashire Environmental Fund.

“North West in Bloom success was achieved across Wyre and four of our parks have received a Green Flag award. Three of our beaches have achieved Seaside Awards acknowledging them as being amongst the best in the country.

“We are generating income by making best use of our assets, including creating a new MOT centre at our Copse Road depot in Fleetwood and finding new tenants for empty properties.

“We’ve created a new Digital Help Centre at Fleetwood Market in partnership with the Citizen’s Advice Bureau which will help local people to get online and access vital benefits and services. Plus, through our Healthier Wyre initiative we have successfully launched many activities and events to help improve the health and wellbeing of our residents.

“Wyre is in a strong position financially. We have a proven track record of bringing in external funding and will continue to invest now to save money in the future. We are looking forward to a year in which we continue to deliver on our vision of working together with the community and our partners to make a difference to the lives of our residents.”

Find out more at www.wyre.gov.uk/budget