One area of Sefton has been left to deal with the “pain” of the borough’s house building boom but “none of the gain” according to a town council leader.
Maghull town council has called on Sefton Council to provide a “fair deal” to the area, saying that money from hundreds of new homes being built is being spent elsewhere and the lack of funding is behind a huge increase in its council tax precept.
Town councillors recently voted for a 13% increase on its precept – part of residents’ council tax bill used to maintain Maghull’s 15 public parks, provide upkeep for the council’s buildings, including the Town Hall and for various community initiatives.
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Deputy town council leader and mayor councillor John Sawyers said the town council had been left “between a rock and a very hard place” by the way they have been treated by Sefton Council.
Leader Cllr Patrick McKinley added the town council had been “haemorrhaging funding” for years, leaving it relying on reserves to keep going as a result of losing £1m due to the removal of a community infrastructure levy by Sefton Council.
Cllr McKinley also claimed that Maghull was being left out of money generated by house building in the area.
He said: “Maghull is taking 25% of Sefton’s housing need (when our need is only 12%) and we have not been given a penny in new homes bonus.”
Cllr McKinley also claimed that Section 106 money, developer contributions agreed as part of the planning permission process to offset the pressures of a development on an area, were given to a “quango” rather than the town council or spent on other parts of Sefton.
He said: “In short many of the councillors reported to me that we seem to be taking all the pain (with all the planned development) and none of the gain.”
At a meeting earlier this month, town councillors agreed a campaign to call on Sefton Council to reinstate a £134k double rating refund, give a “fair share” of new homes bonus and spending money from Maghull developments in the area, as well as using Section 106 money to help the town council achieve its neighbourhood plan.
Cllr McKinley said: “We believe this is a matter of fairness as we are seeing other regeneration initiatives across Sefton. Maghull also needs regeneration.”
Sefton Council was approached for but declined to comment.
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