Rates spike and cuts at crisis-hit council ‘not an easy decision’, say DUP

Councillors have also approved a series of sweeping cuts that will see the closure of the Waterwold attraction in Portrush, the cancellation of the annual air show in Portrush, and major cutbacks on repairs and maintenance works across the Borough.

The rates increase was backed by the DUP, UUP and Alliance.

In a statement, the largest party on the council — the DUP — said the increase was “not an easy decision for us to make”.

The DUP said: “Unfortunately we felt while other parties failed to offer any sensible alternatives, 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.”

The statement continued: “Unfortunately, there is still concerns throughout the organisation that elected representatives are being asked to make decisions without full access to all of the relevant information. To address this, our request for a reform package to include a 3 year budget plan and recovery strategy, with targets and KPIs for performance management, has also been addressed with the publication of a ‘Medium Term Financial Plan’, which we will monitor closely and review as necessary in conjunction with the PWC financial report recommendations in order to ensure sustainable financial planning and management continues.

“There also needs to be a rank and file review of the organisation from top to bottom with no stone unturned in order to ensure that this situation never happens again.

“We as a group are fully aware of the frustration and anger within our communities and take no satisfaction from the difficult decisions which we have had to take in order to reach a balanced solution that provides for the ratepayers needs and the essential services that we all rely on at a value for money cost.

“We will continue to work hard in order to restore public confidence and financial stability to the organisation, which will require teamwork between everyone in the council and elimination of current behaviours by some for self interest and favourable headlines.”

Meanwhile, PUP councillor Russell Watton said much of the financial problems could be attributed to three previous decisions by the council to opt for a zero per cent rate increase.

Rates in the Causeway Coast and Glens council did not rise for three successive financial years, until now;.

Speaking before last night’s meeting, Mr Watton told the News Letter: “I voted for a zero per cent increase the first year, when the chief executive said it could be achieved just about, but I was the only unionist councillor to vote against it the next two years.

“It was glaringly obvious. You can’t keep going with zero per cent and expect it to be okay – there’s inflation, we’ve had the increase in the living wage – it was absolute madness and I said that in the council chamber.”

SDLP councillor Helena Dallat O’Driscoll said: “Without independent experts and a detailed plan our ratepayers will be shouldering this mess for years to come.

“The only way in which this council can win back public confidence is by calling in the experts and we are disappointed that our efforts to do that have been consistently thwarted.”

The council had originally been due to strike the annual rate last week, but the decision was postponed.

An SDLP motion calling for a ‘forensic audit’ of finances was approved by a majority of councillors at last week’s meeting.

But a group of six unionist councillors employed a legal mechanism known as a ‘call-in’ to block that decision.