A PUBLIC meeting over options for the coming year's council tax in Pendle failed to attract the public of West Craven on Wednesday.

It seems people either didn't know about, or simply couldn't be bothered going to the meeting held at Barnoldswick Civic Hall.

Although it dealt with an issue which directly affects the finances of every single taxpayer in West Craven -- an area with a population approaching 20,000 - just 11 people filed into the room at the hall.

Of those, three were Pendle Council officers, five were Pendle councillors, one was a former Pendle councillor, one was a Craven Herald reporter, and the remaining one was a bona fide member of the public.

Undeterred, the officers and leader of the council Alan Davies pressed ahead with what was an informative and clear presentation.

Essentially, it outlined the background to the coming year's council tax and the three options being put forward by a specially formed 'cabinet' of councillors.

Coun Davies explained that this year, for the first time in seven years, the council was being allowed to increase the amount it raised from the council tax. The cash freeze imposed for the past seven years had taken no account of inflation and effectively meant the council having to cut £750,000 from its budget every year.

Although Pendle collects the council tax, on average 77 per cent of it goes to the county council, six per cent to the police authority and just 17 per cent to Pendle. Now the council needs to know what local people feel it should do about its share of the council tax.

Option one was to increase it by six per cent, putting an extra £11.37 per year on a bill for a Band A home, which account for 63 per cent of Pendle's housing.

That option would allow the council to maintain existing services and introduce new ones - 'growth items'.

However, it could incur financial penalties from the Government, which had set a maximum increase of 4.2 per cent.

Option two was a 3.9 per cent increase, putting £4.45 on a Band A bill. It was basically a 'standstill budget', allowing the council to maintain existing services and maybe look at some growth items after a review of its spending and income.

Option three was another cash freeze budget, which would actually mean a cut of £6.39 off a Band A bill, but would also lead to significant cuts in council services and almost certainly job losses.

At the close of the meeting a poll of people's reactions to the three options was taken. But with only two non-councillor West Craven residents present (including this reporter) just one vote cast, and that in favour of option two.

The third and final presentation is due to be held in Colne at the Lesser Municipal Hall on Monday, starting at 7.30pm.

After that, the council tax cabinet will meet on January 21 to consider the outcome of the public consultation. Its recommendations will go to the council's policy committee on February 3, and the final decision will be made at the full council meeting on March 3.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.