Newport mayor responds to social media 'vitriol' as councillors start council tax setting process

Newport's mayor took a swipe at 'vitriol' against the town's council as councillors fired the starting gun on setting next year's council tax bills.

Councillor Thomas Janke told a meeting at Newport Town Council that the authority is "extremely open" with its decisions despite what some commentators say.

The mayor spoke out about some "recent vitriol" by some social media users who had accused the council of not being open.

Mayor Janke told the council's resource and finance committee on Wednesday (Sept 2) that the authority is "extremely open with spending public money" and it "goes beyond what it legally has to do."

The meeting was told that this year's budget will be based on a "strategic plan" which was agreed earlier this year at a meeting held in public.

It included buying a property to use an income generator, replacing the roof on the Black Shed and creating a museum at the Guildhall.

Jo Reay, the town clerk, said: "There shouldn't be any surprises. We're not going to throw in 50-grand for whatever."

Last year's budget setting process resulted in a below inflation rise of 1.83 per cent in the town council's Band D council tax which went up to £150.

This was added to demands from the borough council, the fire service and the police to come up with a final figure.

Councillor Tim Nelson (North ward) said that the council is "profoundly not opaque" and always flags issues beforehand.

He added that the council tax rise next year is "likely to be less than inflation."

But Councillor David Ellams (South ward) struck a note of caution over "not making that commitment" at this stage.

Councillor Nelson replied: "If we can, we should."

Councillors discussed what opportunity other elected members and members of the public would have to raise issues before a decision is taken.

A meeting of the council's resource and finance committee on December 2 is set to recommend the budget to the full council one week later.

Councillors heard that the budget would be discussed at two meetings held in public with the agenda and details published on the council's website.

Councillor Nelson, chairing the committee, said the meeting on December 2 is set to be "pretty big if we are going to trash the budget."

The council has a fall back position of confirming the finances at a meeting in January before its precept demand is sent off to Telford & Wrekin Council and bills are sent out next March.

A meeting of the full council next week, September 9, is being asked to ratify the timetable.