Plans to increase tax for Wigan residents by almost five per cent are “under instruction from the government”, according to council leaders.
Wigan Council leader Dave Molyneux and his team insist the proposed hike is necessary to fund public services and address the budget deficit of £20.4 million in the year ahead. The final decision on the budget and the 4.99 per cent tax rise will be confirmed once it has been approved by cabinet on February 16 and full council on March 1.
Speaking at a briefing ahead of the crunch vote, Coun Nazia Rehman, portfolio holder for finance at Wigan Council said: “This is not a decision we have taken lightly, it is something the government has instructed us to do.
