Douglas Borough Council has set a standstill rate levy of 387p for the 2012-2013 financial year.

The rate was set and unanimously approved at a special meeting of the Council held on Friday, January 27, 2012.

Delivering his annual review and presentation of the budget Council leader Councillor David Christian JP said the past 12 months had proved ‘testing times for the Council, the government and the people of the Isle of Man.’

He explained that towards the end of 2011 the Council had set out its target not to increase the rate burden on Douglas residents for the coming year, as it was sensitive to their other financial pressures. Such a target had not looked possible initially due to pay awards, price inflation, reductions in Government grants and income, together with increased tipping charges and loan costs, combined with the Council’s wish to continue to invest in improving services and progress the regeneration of Douglas town centre.  ‘Despite these challenges, said Councillor Christian, ‘this Council has succeeded in delivering a budget sensitive to the times, one of investment and ambition for the future.’

The budget not only reflected ‘general uncertainty about Europe’s financial prospects’ but also the need for the Council ‘to counter the effects of the Island’s changing economic landscape’ brought about by factors such as the reduction in income from the VAT-sharing agreement, increases in energy and consumer goods and the proposed 3p rise in fuel duty that would come into force in August.

With Council elections due to take place in April Councillor Christian took the opportunity to reflect on the Council’s record over the past four years. Objectives set out in the corporate plan had been achieved and the Council’s performance had been distinguished by rising standards of environmental quality, a sustained programme of public sector housing stock upgrades and construction projects and new leisure facilities. Of particular note had been the introduction and subsequent integration of the kerbside collection service into the Council’s reformed waste management services structure, a measure that would lead to cost savings for the two participating local authorities, Douglas and Braddan.

Regeneration of the town centre would remain a prime focus. Councillor Christian said: ‘In this climate of difficult trading conditions it is all the more important we continue to make regeneration our number one priority, to encourage new businesses and support growth in a balanced and sustainable way. Simply put, what we, as the capital of Mann, do has the power to influence how Isle of Man PLC is seen worldwide.’

Preparing the 2012-2013 budget Members had been focused on the continuing need for the Council to ‘prioritise the necessary over the aspirational’. Councillor Christian said committee Members’ ‘far-sighted budgeting’ had resulted in identifying more than ?523,000  in savings, including ?118,470 in employment efficiencies, ?57,250 in wages and costs of vehicles and overtime savings across all services of ?22,000.

The budget presentation also provided Councillor Christian the opportunity to announce one of the largest investments ever undertaken by the Council outside of housing; a ?12.7 million investment to redevelop Cambrian Place at Lord Street to provide a 460-space multi-storey car park, new premises for the Henry Bloom Noble Library, offices for the Council’s ICT operation and public conveniences.

‘Members voted unanimously for the scheme that is set to kick-start the regeneration of Lower Douglas and has the support of the Chief Minister,’ explained Councillor Christian, adding that for some time the Council had been looking for a site for the library it could own rather than lease, given that the library’s current Victoria Street premises were costing the Council in the region of ?150,000 a year in rent. ‘While the cost of the project will be considerable, the end result will be a valuable asset to the Council and the town,’ he said.

In closing Councillor Christian said: ‘I believe the Council has achieved much these past four years. I also believe this Council has set the tone, standards and values that will serve as the blueprint for the future, to navigate Douglas through economic turbulence to long-term prosperity.’

Councillor Christian’s Annual Review and Presentation of the Budget speech together with a ‘Budget 2012-2013 in Brief’ document can be downloaded at www.douglas.gov.im.

-ENDS-