Shropshire’s towns and parishes could help ease funding cuts
Thursday 22nd July 2010, 1:27PM BST.
Shropshire’s town and parish councils could help to soften the blow of millions of pounds of funding cuts which are due to impact on the county soon, the Shirehall cabinet was told.
The issue was raised as members considered a budget report warning that Shropshire Council faces cuts of at least £47 million in the next three years.
And the Government has said there must be no council tax increases next year which the council had expected would net it an extra £3.2 million.
Alan Mosley, leader of the Labour opposition group, was critical that the authority could not raise cash through a “moderate” tax rise.
He suggested that during budget consultations people should be asked if they were willing to pay moderate increases to help protect services and the Government told if they were in favour.
But council leader Keith Barrow said the people of Shropshire deserved zero council tax increases and that was why they had voted for a Conservative administration at the Shirehall.
He said the council was under financial pressure because of the policies of the previous Labour Government.
Councillor Martin Taylor-Smith said the freeze on council tax didn’t extended to town and parish councils and they would have the chance to increase local precepts to enhance services.
He asked if, for example, Shropshire Council should be providing public toilets or was this something town councils could do.
And if towns and parishes wanted community waste skips, there was nothing to stop them providing these through their own precepts.
Councillor Mosley replied: “You are passing the buck.”
Lib Dem leader, Nigel Hartin, urged that the council “consult properly” with service users.
Most Commented
- Shropshire Council will face £8m redundancy bill
- Clampdown on Shrewsbury chuggers
- Bishop's gay marriage views do nothing to support bible teachings
- Letter: Alcohol price plans annoy me
- Planners ordered to stay on Newport visit bus
- Letter: Angered by close encounter of the furred kind
- Letter: No sense in overseas job adverts
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
Since the council went unitary (to reduce the number of councillors and save us money!) the parish councillors allowances went up from £3,500 per annum to £12,000 per annum.
Only two councillors voted against these huge rises at the time. I wonder why?
Report abuse
Is that the total for one parish? Which parish? And are you including expenses?
Report abuse