BRIERLEY Town Council is freezing the amount of council tax it collects from residents at the same rate as last year - despite debts totalling more than £1.4 million.
Town clerk Sarah Mozer said work was still ongoing to itemise all the council's financial commitments but the total includes various loans taken out fraudulently by the former clerk Jan Cooper, jailed last year, and a loan of £480,000 from Barnsley Council, which was paid to stabilise Brierley's finances.
Despite the debt, the amount residents will pay has been frozen - which equates to £97.37 for band D properties.
The full story appeared in the Barnsley Chronicle newspaper, dated February 21.
