The increases will hit Fermanagh rate payers
HOMES and businesses across Fermanagh will be heavily hit by the sharp increase in planned rates leaving some families as much as £100 out of pocket, councillors have warned.
The 5.8 per cent increase for Fermanagh-based householders sparked a series of angry comments from councillors during a Fermanagh and Omagh District Council meeting when they met to strike the rate at a special meeting last Thursday night.
There were bitter exchanges between rival parties as the new amalgamated council split on its planned rates for the area during the coming financial year.
While Fermanagh householders face a sharp hike in its rates, Omagh rate payers enjoy a reduction of 5.92 per cent.
The first domestic and non-domestic rates to be set by for the new district were passed by just 18 votes to 16. Sinn Fein voted en bloc in favour of the new rate, but both the DUP and Ulster Unionists went against the proposal, along with the Fermanagh-based SDLP representatives.
Amid jeers from some councillors, the heated debate highlighted sharp divisions over the decision to join the two council areas.
The bitter exchanges were sparked when Alex Baird of the Ulster Unionist party accused Sinn Fein and the DUP of striking a deal ‘on the back of a fag packet’ to push through the new council arrangements across the North.
He claimed his party had consistently warned about a big increase in the rates for the current Fermanagh district area. However, his comments led to a sharp rebuke from both Sinn Fein and the DUP.
Brookeborough Sinn Fein councillor, Sheamus Greene said the UUP’s previous forecasts of a rates increase in the region of 28 per cent had proved to be unfounded.
He said: “I know 5.8% isn’t great but it’s not the 30% predicted from the merchant of gloom.
“The alternative, if we hadn’t have set the rate, would have been taken out of our hands and went to central government. Three of the SDLP councillors voted for and three against. “No one came up with an alternative. It’s unfortunate that Fermanagh has to but it’s a lot better than what the merchant of doom were predicting.
“There was no easy decision or magic wand that could be waved that could solve all this. Not one other party suggested the alternative.”
When asked if Sinn Fein did a U-turn in his party’s approach to cuts, he stated: “I don’t see any contradiction in it at all, if we had washed our hands of it we would have been taking about massive cuts. We took the responsible route here.
“It’s very easy to shout from the side lines but no other party took a decision.”
SDLP councillor Richie McPhillips accused the DUP and Sinn Fein of gerrymandering adding that Fermanagh is suffering because of it.
He added: “The vast majority of businesses have to take into account the re-valuation of their properties and some properties in the county have increased by up to 100% so businesses will be hit heavily. Some business people said to me that they would find it difficult to apply the interest and it may cost jobs.
“It’s disappointing Sinn Fein made this decision but they will have to sell that to their electorate. We voted not to increase the rates at this time. It’s disappointing it has come to this as we are being heavily hit in Fermanagh.”
UUP councillor Raymond Farrell said that Fermanagh would “bear the brunt” of the rate increase adding that Sinn Fein’s practices will “cost us money”.
“Sinn Fein doesn’t have a good grasp of economics, it leaves a lot to be desired, so no, I’m not surprised by their vote,” he added.
“This is an extremely difficult situation and I do understand where our council officers are coming from in terms of trying to get a rate that going to meet the need of the area. That said, I voted against it.
From day one, I’ve said that this amalgamation will cost us, now I think we are baring the fruits of that and sadly I think this will impact on families, individuals, local businesses.
“I would never say Sinn Fein are a party that favours working-class people. They may talk a lot about that but I think in practice we have seen in ways they are costing people money.”
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