Rochdale council is planning to freeze council tax next year to help people get back on their feet following the coronavirus pandemic.The authority is facing an eye-watering budget gap of more than £33m in 2021/22, largely owing to the impact of Covid-19 on its finances.Abandoning its initial plan to put bills up by the maximum 1.99pc will cost the council £1.8m in lost income.But council leader Allen Brett says he is determined not to inflict any further financial hardship on residents on the back of the coronavirus crisis.He said: “We’re doing this because I just think people have paid too much money out during the pandemic and the people who probably most need it - in other words the working poor - need a council tax freeze.”The.