Council oversight could cost market
Tuesday 5th May 2009, 11:01AM BST.
Market traders in Shrewsbury could face a massive tax bill because of an oversight in the way the town’s indoor market hall is run.
The hike comes as the bill falls on Shrewsbury Town Council, a report to councillors says.
The extra cost comes after a decision made by the implementation executive – the acting council after the demise of Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council – to ask the unitary council to carry out the day-to-day running of the market hall.
But it had not realised there would be problems in reclaiming VAT.
Mike Croston, acting town clerk, said because the unitary council was running the market on the town council’s behalf, they could exceed the tax exemption limit for VAT.
He said it could see the town council facing a bill as high as £14,000.
In a report to a meeting of the town council on Thursday, Mr Croston says: “The fact that Shropshire Council on behalf of the town council will undertake day-to-day management imposes a requirement on Shropshire Council to charge the town council VAT.”
He said consultants Price Waterhouse had suggested three options – the town council managing the market, market staff given a joint contract with the councils, or allowing the town council to “opt to tax” the general market.
He said the quickest solution would be to tax traders and is recommending the matter be deferred until after the June elections.
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I beg to ask one simple question. How long would the clowns that make up Shropshire local authorities last in their jobs if they worked in private industry?
This is not an ‘oversight’ it is gross incompetence on a scale that would result in anyone in the private sector being shown the shortest route to door.
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Xhristo you are forgetting that the people that ran the administration responsible will be soon back asking for votes again,having a conscience is not a prerequisite, all aboard, all aboard! The 6.50 gravy train is ready and leaving the station soon
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Perhaps the council could throw a party (again), this time and have a whip round.
Yippee, they could use the magnificant salver as a begging bowl.
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simple solution is to let the town council run the market 100% – would save on tax and prevent duplication of efforts
markets have always and should always be a town council issue
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Just shows why some of us will not stand again 12 years was enough. The new Shropshire Council is so far out of its depth on delivering real front line services this will be the first of many cock ups. Most of the public will not see the mistakes but they will happen. Councils are there to deliver and improve services and to develope the area they serve. SABC did this very well but still the great unwashed complain lets call it the Shropshire disease. Over the years I had loads of flack from these page from many who had not a clue what they are on about. Some things do not change but if you think being a Cllr is a gravey train well think again. If you can do better get off your back sides and do something, Oh sorry that is like too much hard work. Lets hope that those who are going forward get rid of the old guard fromm S.C.C. who as Cllrs are just the puppets of the officers. Lets hope also the first thing done is to cut down on the number of managers in the council and invest in some real workers rather than just pen pushers. Will this keep pepole happy ofcause not this is Shropshire.Will this get pepole having a go back at me ? well who realy cares.
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I agree with Charles above it’s not the councillors it’s the officers.
These people are a bit like ants in the council buildings,all running around aimlessly with very little to actually do, which is where they differ from ants.
They leave school join the council and know they are safe from the outside world, with all its hardships, for life until they retire on a big fat pension kindly supplied by us the taxpayer (and unlike our pensions, they are guaranteed to be good). They couldn’t survive in the outside world, let alone find a job.(Certainly not keep one for more than a week)They create grandious job titles to ensure more little ants will have a justifiable wage and make them feel important but in reality don’t have a clue about the job that they are supposed to be doing. How do I know all this? Well I have worked for councils and know people who still do.
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Firstly let me thank former Cllr Armstrong for his twelve years of service however the terminology of calling the voting public as ‘the great unwashed’ really shows what the councillors think of us. I can only presume that such comments are plentiful in the council chamber when in closed session.
People see certain representatives wanting to bathe in the glory of being at The Guidhall but then be somewhat shy when any chance of criticism is in the offing.
The outgoing administration appears immune to the fact that council taxpayers feel hurt of the money spent on parties etc. There is nothing pleasant about self-praise.
We will all however hold the sword of truth when the local elections fall soon and take those that decried the new administration but are now seeking a seat with it.
Do these people not see how hypocritical they appear?
There are a number of representatives who regularly go the extra mile and rightly deserve applause, however these are not the ones who we see constantly appear to seek the headlines.
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these cretins!.do they not realise most of these market traders are really feeling the pinch with the state of the economy, and are already finding it difficult to trade.
if sabc and its successors still want a thriving shrewsbury market then they had better tread carefully. when is election day?
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How quaint to know what those in the Frankwell Ivory Tower really think of us.
Well Mr Armstrong it’s obvious that the heat in the kitchen was too much for you and you’ve taken the honourable course.
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