Ratepayers face 3% rise indistrictrates bills

Corporate Services Committee Chairman, Councillor William Leathem, proposed at a Special Meeting of the Council on Monday night that there should be an increase of 0.5462p or 2.96% for non-domestic properties and 0.0072p or 2.97% for domestic properties.

Mr Leathem said the increase meant this was the sixth consecutive year in which the Council has set its district rate rise below the rate of inflation, and means Lisburn is now the lowest City Council in the district rates league table for 2011/12.

“To put Lisburn City Council’s district rate into context, for an average household paying rates on a property valued at £200,000 this means an annual increase on household rates of £14.38 or 28 pence extra per week,” said Mr Leathem.

Speaking at the Special Meeting on Monday, Councillor Leathem said that this was its most challenging year in recent history in setting its District Rate.

He said the Council recognised the need to secure continued investment in the city, balanced with the provision of a wide range of ‘first-class Council services to ratepayers’.

Included in the Leisure Services capital development projects is the second phase of the Wallace Park re-development, with construction of a new Sports Pavilion to be completed by this Summer. Outdoor re-development of the Lagan Valley LeisurePlex, costing £1.86m, is due to begin in the next financial year, providing new synthetic sports pitches in floodlit enclosures. Mr Leathem praised Lisburn’s community infrastructure, with the Council providing community grants of £680,000 through its Community Services work and providing funding towards community satellite centres across the city at Maghaberry, Old Warren, Poleglass and Hillsborough.

He said the promotion and the development of the City were especially significant in the current economic climate and outlined a range of economic development schemes incliding the delivery of the City Centre MasterPlan, with the preparation of a development scheme for the Laganbank Quarter area, and over £1million of investment in the Stewartstown Road Environmental Regeneration Programme planned during the next financial year.

They will also spend £328,000 promoting the City through a marketing programme, including a television and radio advertising campaign.

“This incoming year has presented significant challenges to this Council,” he said. “As we move forward Lisburn City Council will remain committed to the provision of the highest quality services to our citizens.”