Council tax to go up by 3.6pc in Rochdale - but further £1m support approved as 'rabbit pulled from hat' at 11th hour

Council tax in Rochdale will go up by 3.6pc from April after the increase was voted through at the annual budget setting meeting.

The hike - which also includes Andy Burnham’s mayoral and policing precepts - means an average Band D household will pay an extra £73 per year.

A Conservative proposal to freeze the general element of council tax - which accounts for 2pc of the increase - rather than targeting support at the most vulnerable, was voted down by Labour councillors.

READ MORE : How people in Rochdale can get help with council tax and energy bills as the cost of living crisis begins to bite

But there was a surprise in store when Labour ‘pulled a rabbit out of the hat’ by tabling an 11th hour amendment to its own budget, which was ultimately approved.

In a highly unusual move, finance chief Councillor Carol Wardle unveiled plans to create a new poverty fund and boost the proposed £3m council tax reduction scheme by redirecting £1m earmarked for reserves.

The scheme, which sets all bills of £150 or less, was originally targeted at working age people who become eligible for council tax support during the 2022/23 financial year.

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But that has now been extended to pensioners who are eligible for council tax support. Those with remaining bills of £50 or less will not have to