Ballymena SDLP Councillor Declan O'Loan MLA has welcomed the minimal rate increase by Ballymena Council, a motion which he seconded, and which is due to come into action on 1 April of this year.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr O'Loan said: "I am very pleased to support the proposal for a 1.65% increase in the rates for the incoming year. This represents very good value for the ratepayers and they can have confidence that for this modest increase they are getting efficient and innovative delivery from their Council.

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"The Council has been very conscious of the financial pressures on households and the retail sector particularly, in recent times, and has striven to keep the increase down. The Regional Rate imposed by the Northern Ireland Assembly - and that accounts for the bigger half of the rates bill - is set to rise by 2.7%. Even with that, the total rate bill for an average house will rise by just £18 for the year or 35p per week.

"This Council is a leading Council in Northern Ireland. It is at the forefront of developments in providing better for the community and in growing jobs. This low rate increase has only been made possible by efficiency savings of no less than £1 million over the next year - no small sum against a total spend of £21.8 million. Without those efficiency savings, the increase in the rates would have been 6%. I have pressed our staff on the efficiency front, and particularly as we now move towards the new Council, I believe that much greater efficiencies are yet to be delivered."

(CD/GK)