Campaigner claims Shifnal Town Council incompetent

Councillors in Shifnal no longer have the support of residents in the town due to an increase in staffing costs and the authority's handling of key issues, it has been claimed.

Mark Mountford, of Maple Close, told members of Shifnal Town Council they no longer represented the interests of local residents. He said there should be a vote of no confidence in councillors due to their actions in recent years.

He accused them of 'gross incompetence'.

Mr Mountford, who made his claims in front of around 250 residents at the annual town meeting at Shifnal Village Hall last night, had previously circulated a letter to every household in the area complaining about the actions of the council.

His letter raised concerns about the treatment of former councillors, an increase in staffing costs and the long-running campaign over changes to the town's Christmas lights.

But councillors have insisted the authority is being run efficiently and have described their staffing costs as 'reasonable'.

Mr Mountford accused the council of being oblivious to the recession as its staff wages bill had soared in recent years.

He claimed that from 2003-2010 it had risen from £16,000 to £21,000, rising to £52,000 in 2011.

He claimed that the bill had risen to £120,000 in 2012.

Mr Mountford said: "Shifnal Town Council will claim that the staff costs are to do with the Localism Bill.

"They say their responsibilities are going to increase.

"They are not doing anything extra yet but the wages went up two years ago.

"This council is obsessed that I am accusing them of fraud and corruption but I am accusing them of gross incompetence."

Town mayor Councillor Eileen Briscoe said: "Change isn't easy, modernisation is not easy and I would ask for your patience as these changes take place."

She also thanked the council's staff for their work saying they were 'always professional and very efficient'.

A chart was used to show residents that the council's staffing budget accounted for 23 per cent of the authority's annual precept.

Councillor Tony Stringfellow said: "Our staffing costs are at a reasonable level for the size of the town."