Refunds on Basingstoke Council services

Is it time that residents were able to claim refunds for services not provided?

Take the refuse service provided by Basingstoke and Deane in Whitchurch. For several months social media has been awash with complaints of missed collections for general, recycling and garden waste.

Basingstoke & Deane receive payment through the Council Tax and extra charges for Green Waste to provide this service yet when it is missed or delayed residents are expected to take a hit the wallet.

Even the much derided South Western Railway now offers a partial refund when their trains are late even for just 15 minutes, and they give a full refund when they are cancelled.

Should Basingstoke & Deane offer a similar scheme?
I believe so.

Does the Mayor get paid?

Does the Mayor get paid?

I was standing in front of a year group at the Primary school, reporting back on their visit to the Council Chamber where on a couple of wonderful afternoons they had exercised the right be be involved in decision making.

Today was the 'follow up' and as one does I offered to answer questions.

After the "Do you like being Mayor" and "We would like a new Play Area" came the one on finance. A nine-year old chirped up with "Does the Mayor get paid?"

The answer is of course that the Mayor receives Zilch, Nothing, Nada, Zero, Nowt. However you put it the Mayor of Whitchurch is paid not a penny. There are some small allowances for upkeep of gowns and chains, and maybe the odd bottle of wine or flowers for event raffles, but to be paid?
A very Big NO.

And all Town Councillors are the same.
All are completely unpaid volunteers giving their own time for the Town of Whitchurch which really begs the question "Why do they do it?"

Its because they care about Whitchurch and its people and they want to achieve the best for everyone.

So please when complaining about anything in the town and parish, please remember that the twelve Whitchurch Town Councillors receive not a penny for their time, commitment and effort in their quests to make Whitchurch a better place for us all.

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