Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Sets Its District Rate

February 11, 2016

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council has struck its 2016-2017 rate for domestic and non-domestic properties.

The rate has been struck at 2.98% which is as low as possible to ensure the continued maintenance of value for money services and top quality facilities.

Alderman James Tinsley, Chairman of the Council’s Corporate Services Committee, speaking about the new rate, said: “The new district rate has been set to ensure the Council can continue to provide all its services and fulfil the new powers it was awarded under local government reform last April.

“Whilst inflation remained low in the last financial year the Council experienced increased costs due to fulfilling EU landfill diversion targets and increased recycling targets; and also due to the introduction of the National Minimum Hourly Wage, which it implemented for all affected staff and the removal of the Employers National Insurance Rebate of 3.4%.

“The Council absorbed many great challenges and changes over the last year, though its new powers are now well established and will continue to be developed and invested in this incoming financial year,” concluded Alderman Tinsley.

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council has identified a very exciting capital programme to improve the facilities provided to its ratepayers in 2016/17 and beyond.

Developments include the refurbishment of some of its existing leisure facilities including its large portfolio of outdoor pitches; the development of new leisure facilities; investment in securing new burial plots and the development of public realm schemes in outlying villages in the Council area including Hillsborough.

The Council has also secured external funding from a number of funding bodies to deliver programmes including regeneration, rural development and a Peace IV Programme for Peace and Reconciliation.