Postbag
Inevitable expenses of a restoration of services
CONSERVATIVE councillors have laid down a number of public challenges to our administration over council tax.
Considering the political mess we inherited in May, and which we are now doing our best to sort out, they have some cheek.
However, we are practical people and we will give straight answers.
It will also give us a chance to provide a little more information about how the council intends to go about setting our budget for next year.
The administration's budget is based on the agreed priorities of the council.
We will put together our draft budget, including a recommended level of council tax, and this will be discussed by the cabinet in January.
We believe in asking local people and listening to what they have to say.
We therefore intend to consult town and parish councils, the
business community and local
residents - through such
mechanisms as the People's Voice survey.
We will also consult all groups on the council (including the Conservatives themselves) and the appropriate scrutiny committee.
We will then weigh up all of the options and the views expressed to us very carefully.
Once we have considered all of these, we will approve the budget and our proposed council tax will go to the full council for a final decision in February.
The level of council tax that we are able to levy is capped by the government at a maximum increase of five per cent.
Over the past three years, the increases in council tax, under Conservative administrations, have been: 4.8 per cent in 2005-6, 5.0 per cent in 2006-7, and 4.99 per cent in 2007-8.
We simply cannot give the
assurances the Conservatives ask for because we do not share their approach.
Public services were cut under their administration. We are now rolling up our sleeves to restore many of the cuts to services which they made while in office.
The council's share of the overall council tax is dwarfed by the huge impact of increases in the county council's precept.
However, that said, we will endeavour to keep the council's council tax rise as low as possible.
Suffice to say that, with capping, it will be a few tenths of a percent within the council tax increases introduced by the Conservatives.
CLLR PAUL SAMPLE, Leader of Salisbury District Council. CLLR ANDREW ROBERTS, Finance Portfolio Holder, Salisbury District Council.
12:11pm Thursday 13th December 2007
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CommentPosted by: Sustainer, Salisbury on 1:48pm Thu 13 Dec 07
Cllr Sample is always very careful with his words and I note he refers to a 'political mess we inherited in May' leaving the reader to assume that the Council finances were also in a mess.
The financial mess the Lib/Labs find themselves in is entirely of their own making for as Cllr Sample knows the Audit Commission reported in March 2006:
‘Our assessment of the Council's use of resources arrangements concluded that overall the Council was performing well and was consistently above the minimum requirements in many areas.
The Council's financial position is generally satisfactory although it continues to face significant pressures.’
The new administration took over a Council graded in the top 30 of Councils in the Country and in less than 6 months have plunged it into chaos. The £1.5million reserve they inherited has all been spent, staffs are not being replaced and money is promised to another Council to fight a battle with National Government which has already been lost. His fiscal competence is questionable and, with such a record of profligacy, leaving him in charge of our Council Tax fills me with dread.
Cllr Sample is always very careful with his words and I note he refers to a 'political mess we inherited in May' leaving the reader to assume that the Council finances were also in a mess.
The financial mess the Lib/Labs find themselves in is entirely of their own making for as Cllr Sample knows the Audit Commission reported in March 2006:
‘Our assessment of the Council's use of resources arrangements concluded that overall the Council was performing well and was consistently above the minimum requirements in many areas.
The Council's financial position is generally satisfactory although it continues to face significant pressures.’
The new administration took over a Council graded in the top 30 of Councils in the Country and in less than 6 months have plunged it into chaos. The £1.5million reserve they inherited has all been spent, staffs are not being replaced and money is promised to another Council to fight a battle with National Government which has already been lost. His fiscal competence is questionable and, with such a record of profligacy, leaving him in charge of our Council Tax fills me with dread.
Posted by: John B. Pope, Tisbury on 2:36pm Wed 16 Jan 08
Is this what is termed'Damning with feint praise?
‘Our assessment of the Council's use of resources arrangements concluded that overall the Council was performing well and was consistently above the minimum requirements in many areas.
The Council's financial position is generally satisfactory although it continues to face significant pressures.’
Is this what is termed'Damning with feint praise?
‘Our assessment of the Council's use of resources arrangements concluded that overall the Council was performing well and was consistently above the minimum requirements in many areas.
The Council's financial position is generally satisfactory although it continues to face significant pressures.’
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