News day story- Cannock Chase DC

Angry taxpayers have criticised Cannock Chase District Council’s decision to increase Council Tax by two per cent.

Cannock Chase Council faces a funding cut of 20% per cent in the next two years, which is equivalent to £1.2 million pounds.

Councillors triggered the rise when they voted to reject Government funding to freeze Council Tax for a third year back in January.

Colin Groves, 47, of John Till Close, Rugeley, claims the Council’s actions will hit the poorest families hardest.

He said: “I think it is a bad decision. Especially for those families struggling, we in Rugeley will not benefit from any Council Tax rise, as the Council has never done anything for this town in the 47 years I have lived here.

“This used to be a thriving town back in the 70’s and 80’s, I can remember there being many fantastic shops, but since the demise of the pit and other firms Rugeley has died a very slow death.

“The town is now full of charity shops and food establishments with just a few businesses left struggling to survive, and I have not seen any help from Cannock Council in all the years I have been here.

“Our Council Tax seems to only be spent on Cannock, and it’s neighbor Hednesford.”

Rugeley resident Paul Fisher agreed adding: “I am totally opposed to the tax rise, as there was an alternative. The Government were dangling a £60,000 pound carrot if Cannock Council had voted for a Council Tax freeze.”

However, Cannock Chase District Council in an official statement insisted the rise was necessary due to Government cuts.

Cannock Chase District Council leader Cllr George Adamson said: “Cannock Chase Council is facing a shortfall or saving requirement of £800,000 in the next two years rising to well over £1 million in 2016/2017.

“The Government has offered us a Council Tax Freeze Grant for this year of 1%. This equates to £60,000 for Cannock Chase Council, however this is only payable for a two year period meaning the Council would lose out by a further £110,000.

The Council leader insisted the impact would be minimal on family budgets he said: “The 2% increase is an average of £3.32 a year or just over 6p a week per household-on Cannock Chase Council’s portion of the Council Tax bill.”

Businesses attacked the move saying they already pay enough to the Council.

Rugeley Reptiles Owner Lisa Greatrix, 44 said: “We pay £181 pounds per month in Business Rates and another £100 in Council Tax. This means we pay the Council £300 per month before we even start breathing. It’s disgusting!

“We do not use Council bins at work, the roads are hardly up to scratch around here and we rarely see a road sweeper! How can they justify all this money?”

Coles Bar Rugeley Owner Gavin Houston, 32 said: “Business rates and Council Tax are very much preventing me from taking on full time staff. The bill per year is more than my wage bill for all of my staff.

“I run two businesses in Rugeley and the one premises costs £500 per week in Business Rates it is a rip off. We live in Rugeley Town not a major city!”

Leader of the Council Opposition Conservative Group Cllr Paul Snape believes the decision has been taken for ‘political reasons’ by the Labour run Council.

Mr Snape said: “I believe the wrong decision was made to increase Council Tax. South Staffordshire Council residents pay almost 50% less across all bands, they supply excellent services and are freezing Council Tax next year.

“As well as increasing Council Tax by 2% Labour are increasing Council House Rents by 3.1% and all fee’s except car parking charges by 3.5%.

“This is a political decision taken by Labour in Cannock to punish residents.”

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News Day story

Hednesford Traders Association Chairman David Wisehall admits confidence amongst his members is ‘very low.’

Mr Wisehall believes recent adverse weather has had a negative effect upon trade.

This is despite the opening of the brand new £50 million pound Tesco store.

He said: “One business has closed down since Christmas and one is on the verge of shutting it’s doors.

“Confidence amongst my members is very low at the moment.

“As I am sure it is in most high street stores up and down the country.

“There is no sign of an upturn in fortunes, so it’s just a case of toughing it out and hoping to survive.

“An indication of this is that the new Tesco store does not seem to be very busy.”

A new £5 million pound out of town shopping park is expected to be opened by 2014.

Trebor Developments and Harton Estate says the park will be expected to create up to 60 jobs.

The park will be built beside the M6 toll near to the Orbital retail park.

Mr Wisehall has confessed that this new development could have an ‘negative effect’ upon trade in Hednesford.

However, he believes that the British high street still has a future.

He said: “Out of town shopping does impact upon the high streets.

“I believe that high streets still have a future, but they need to adapt drastically to attract customers.

“I am currently exploring ways to achieve this in Hednesford, which is in an enviable position that out of town shopping is in our town.

“Surely it is not beyond me and my members to exploit this fact.”

Business rates across Cannock Chase has risen by 12.6% in just eleven years.

Cannock Chase District Council’s business rates scheme offers traders free rates for a year or a £10,000 contribution to costs.

Mr Wisehall criticized the scheme saying it has hardly helped his members.

He said: “The Cannock Chase District Council business rates scheme has had a negligible affect on most new and existing businesses in Hednesford.

“Most businesses in the town qualify for the Government’s small business rate relief scheme, which has been extended until April 2014, so they do not pay any business rates at all.

“The Council’s scheme would benefit new businesses, which have a rateable of over £6,000 per year.”

The Hednesford Traders Association expects no businesses in town to expand this year.

Mr Wisehall said: “None of the independent businesses in the town are doing well enough to contemplate an expansion on that scale.”

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