Big-spending authority to raise council tax by five pc

MANCHESTER council tax will rise by 4.99pc this spring after the town hall passed its latest budget with leaders citing "real improvements".

- By ETHAN DAVIES Local Democracy Reporter

For the first time, the authority's spending plans have passed the £1bn mark following a bumper settlement from the government. Changes in funding formulas mean it has 24 per cent extra cash to play with.

An extra £11m will be spent on the likes of tackling fly-tipping, tidying up streets, improving parks, a crackdown on rogue landlords, opening eight libraries on Sundays, bringing back the Heaton Park firework display, and giving every secondary school student free, local authority gym access.