Fermanagh and Omagh District Council approved a rates rise of 2.72% at a special meeting on Monday night, while some independent councillors claim they had been ‘silenced’ in the process.
The budget and district rate increase for both domestic and non-domestic properties was proposed by Sinn Féin and supported by the DUP and SDLP, while the UUP indicated it was against the proposal.
According to a statement from the council, the setting of the new rate will raise approximately £38m in revenue to fund local services.
It also said that the rates rise represents a below inflation increase when coupled with a regional rates freeze, and will see the overall rates bill increase by 1.2%.
“In monetary terms, the increase means a domestic ratepayer with a property with an average value of £114,500 will pay approximately 23p more per week on their 2022/2023 overall rates bill,” a council statement said.
“Non-domestic (business) ratepayers with an average net annual value of £18,000 will pay approximately £2.07 more per week on their rates bill over the next financial year.”
However, in a further confrontation between independent councillors and those from major parties, Councillor Donal O’Cofaigh said: “I want to publicly protest the fact that we were completely excluded from having any input into probably the most important decision this council will make in the next year,” Cllr O’Cofaigh said.
Both Cllr O’Cofaigh and fellow independent Councillor Emmet McAleer were muted from their virtual appearances at the meeting, with SDLP councillor Mary Garrity rubbishing their claims of having been excluded.
“We have had much discussion on this, no one was excluded. We had a workshop, everyone was invited, everyone took place who wished to take place,” Cllr Garrity said.
“For people to come in now and say that they weren’t allowed to speak up or to be included is very disingenuous.”
Council chair, DUP councillor Errol Thompson, said agreeing the rate and budget increase for the year was a necessary step due to budget pressures.
“By setting the District Rate and agreeing the budget for 2022/23, the revenue raised will enable the Council to deliver services across the district in the forthcoming year,” Cllr Thompson said.
“In line with Covid-19 restrictions, the Council, like many other organisations, has in the past year, experienced a significant reduction in its income due to the closure or reduction in capacity of a number of its income generating services.
“Costs incurred in the delivery of frontline services have also increased due to additional demands and the implementation of Covid secure working service arrangements.
These have presented significant challenges and budgetary pressures. However, Council officers have once again worked to review overheads and other areas of expenditure across the Council.
“This will produce efficiency savings in the next financial year to offset these losses and cost increases so as to minimise the impact on ratepayers overall.”
