Douglas Council increases rates by 12%

Cllr Claire Wells says the authority needs to provide for the future

Douglas Council has announced its rates are going up by 12% - the most of any authority on the island.

It met today to set the rate at 573 pence in the pound, an increase of 64 pence. 

Council leader Claire Wells said the authority needs to provide 'sustainability' for the future and 'keeping one eye' on the current situation.

She also said she's 'committed and focused' on delivering essential public services. 

Local Democracy Reporter Emma Draper has been speaking to her:

The council says its 'projected' spending will be £583 per head of population for the next year and the largest amount of this money pays for refuse and waste services.

Councillors Devon Watson and Stephen Pitts both voted against the budget because they believed money should be spent elsewhere.

Mr Watson raised concerns about spending money on installing a bronze statue and Mr Pitts over replacing agency staff at the civic amenity site with full time people.