Sandwell council tax frozen for fifth year running despite cuts
Council tax in Sandwell has been frozen for the fifth year running despite what councillors called unprecedented attacks on public services.
Deputy leader of the borough's Labour-run council Steve Eling said the Government would not be allowed to 'penalise the people of Sandwell'.
Councillors also rejected a proposed 2.2 per cent pay rise, saying it would be inappropriate given the level of austerity being 'forced' on people.
The authority has to make cuts of £63 million by 2017.
Funding from central government has dropped by £122 million in the six years to 2015/16.
Councillor Eling admitted tough decisions had been made but that 'careful and prudent' use of resources had allowed the council to 'weather the storm'.
He said taking sensible decisions such as selling off buildings and cutting agency staff had allowed it to retain services that would otherwise have been lost.
He said: "We have had to take some tough decisions that in better times we wouldn't have taken. We have lost some people along the way but it was the choice between that and frontline services.
"Sandwell Council will freeze council tax again. Why should the Government penalise the people of Sandwell by taking away a million quid? The half a million pounds we would get would make little difference to the budget."
