Transferring residents face rates shock

Figures released this week show the district rate in Belfast next year will be 21% higher in Belfast than Lisburn.

The difference for non domestic ratepayers is even more stark - Belfast is 38% higher.

The new figures also show Lisburn has dropped further down the rates league table and is now the second lowest in Northern Ireland. Only Castlereagh, which will form one of the 11 new councils with Lisburn, is lower.

The Chairman of Lisburn's Corporate Services Committee, Councillor Paul Givan, said that with the regional rate frozen for 2010/11, the average household rates bill in the city will rise by 0.98%, or 78 pence per month.

"Lisburn City Council set its District Rate rise at 1.98% for domestic and non-domestic properties" he said. "Compared to the average across Northern Ireland Councils, which is 4.64% with some increases as high as 8.4%, Lisburn aims to continue to provide cost-effective services for its ratepayers and now has the second lowest rate level in NI."

Mr Givan said the Council had again brought forward an increase which is below the level of inflation for the fifth consecutive year.

"This is testimony to the effort made by the DUP on Lisburn Council to deliver a twin track approach of high quality services at lowest possible cost. In the 2005 Council elections the DUP made a commitment to bring about a change in fiscal management after a long period of excessive increases well above inflation and we have been delivering on that commitment" he said.

Referring to the regional rate element of the bill Lagan Valley Assembly Member Edwin Poots said: "Through devolution the DUP put an end to direct rule increases of 19% in one year alone and brought in a real terms cut for the ratepayer by freezing the regional rate. We have used devolution to ensure that water charging has not been brought in and will maintain our position that Government Departments must drive out every last drop of efficiency before you would turn on the tap of raising more money from taxpayers through water charging.

"Our financial restraint at Stormont and fiscal control over Lisburn Council has ensured that the ratepayers in Lisburn are in a much better position now than was the case before 2005 and under direct rule."

The below inflation rise in Lisburn's commercial rates was also welcomed by the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association.

Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said: "Lisburn Council should be commended for keeping their non domestic rates increase to just 1.98% which will be welcomed by local traders.

"A number of Local Councils have hiked their rates up by 7-8% which have placed a severe burden on local small businesses. I only wish they could follow the leadership of Lisburn by not imposing such over the top increases on small traders who are still struggling with the impact of the recession"