Shifnal council split over 400% tax hike
Nearly half of the members on a Shropshire town council are against plans to hike council tax by more than 400 per cent, it has been revealed. Nearly half of the members on a Shropshire town council are against plans to hike council tax by more than 400 per cent, it has been revealed. Six of the 15 Shifnal town councillors have signed a joint letter calling for an extraordinary meeting to be held discuss the "outrageous" decision. They say it is undemocratic, unfair and wrong. But now town mayor Ron Jowett is seeking legal advice about whether he needs to grant the councillors' request.
Nearly half of the members on a Shropshire town council are against plans to hike council tax by more than 400 per cent, it has been revealed.
Six of the 15 Shifnal town councillors have signed a joint letter calling for an extraordinary meeting to be held discuss the "outrageous" decision.
They say it is undemocratic, unfair and wrong. But now town mayor Ron Jowett is seeking legal advice about whether he needs to grant the councillors' request.
Town clerk Fiona Thomas said: "The may-or has expressed his concern over the legitimacy of the subject matter of the requested meeting and we are awaiting legal and procedural advice on this matter."
Some people have complained since being ordered to pay the town council £148.97 this year if they live in a Band D home, compared with £27.63 last year.
Disabled Shifnal pensioner Rita Barton vowed this week that she would go to prison before paying her Shifnal tax bill.
And Councillor Gordon Tonkinson, one of the rebels, said there was growing concern within the town about the council's plans.
He said: "We know that the outrageous tax rise stands. But we want to challenge the undemocratic way they brought this in and try to stop them using this mon-ey as they have planned - appointing unnecessary new posts such as project officers, another full-time town clerk and a man with a van.
"If we carry on doing what we have always done successfully, and go out to tender services from bigger councils if we have a particular project in mind, we can save money this year and repay residents in 2012/13."
The rebels' strongly-word-ed letter calls on the council to immediately stop spending on new projects and staff until after the meeting.
Mrs Thomas has previously said that the figures were misleading when taken on their own as last year's low tax bill was a "one-off".
She said cash had been left over from 2009/10, when councillors had budgeted for major work at Shifnal's former magistrates' court, which was eventually not carried out.
By Danny Carden
