Last year I could not support an increase costs by the Town Council on our residents that was kept to around 4% by using reserves.
Around £13,000 was taken from reserves that with adjustments elsewhere could have been used on services/amenities for our residents.
I will simply repeat what I said then:
“It seems the proposal made is to use excess reserves to 'bail out’ this situation – funds that belong to the people of Whitchurch, and having accrued, should really be used for better purposes – community amenities and improvements to services.”
I asked “What will happen next year”.
Well here we are in 2021 and...
We are being asked to use even greater sums from the Reserves to prop up the budget.
Today there are concerns including increasing petty crime, poor pavement cleaning, lack of general maintenance, potential loss of the toilets, illegal rubbish dumping and possible future car park charging.
At the same time many residents are suffering financial implications from job losses, business closures, rising inflation, income reductions, increased stress and of course health difficulties and losses of family/friends through Covid.
When people in our community are having to raise funds, call for donations and give their own time to help the needy; and are delivering hundreds of food parcels and assist in providing basic needs, we as a Council are asking them to pay more?
Is that right?
I cannot agree to that so will oppose the budget that is being presented for 2021/22.
I voted against. I lost the argument.
The proposals were however agreed by majority, a process which I fully respect:
Charge to be raised from local residents (the Precept): £160,852.54
For a Band D property this means a payment of £76.81, a rise of £12.97p p.a
This is a rise of 20.3% and ALSO takes a sum of £17,165.92 out of Reserves.
I'm not a financial expert, but my view there is something that needs addressing in the 'balance' of how the finances are managed when over £17k has to be used to prop up the figures which STILL result in a large increase.
Yes, there are amounts added for potential running of the Public Toilets, although we pay for that already through our taxes to Basingstoke; and for maintenance of the sports pitches, but overall with also over £100,000 on administration I feel most uncomfortable and hope that the Council can look again at its financial direction.
ALL MY OWN OPINION OF COURSE
