The truth behind the Town Council budget as reported by Hunts Post.

In the Hunts Post, page 11, the paper writes about the recent Town Council budget setting meeting. The articles says:

WITH the country still recovering from the recession, councillors in St Neots have voted to cut their share of the Council Tax to help people through the financial downturn. snrednek says: Err not quite!

From April 1, residents in Band D homes will pay £3.36 a year less for services provided by St Neots Town Council. snrednek says: TRUE for current residents. Not for those being annexed.

The Liberal Democrat Town Council Leader Julia Hayward is quoted as saying:

Councillor Julia Hayward told the meeting the aim of the budget was to ensure people had more money in their pockets during a time of economic gloom. snrednek says: Except those being annexed.

“We have had to be mindful that we are nationally in the midst of a recession and that people are concerned about the money in their pocket,” she said. snrednek says: If they were that mindful they would have cut further. Instead there was an underlying increase in budget of £53,151 or a 6.8% rise. This is masked by the extra £85,000 they are getting from the annexed residents.

Cllr Hayward said the Council Tax decrease had been made possible by “tightening up” on council spending, including a £14,000 saving by taking grounds maintenance in-house. snrednek says: The Town Council sent me a letter identifying £95,000 of extra costs. At best this is taking £14,000 off the £95,000 it cost yearly to take this service in house! So it still costs the Council taxpayers an extra £81,000 a year.

On the other hand the Conservatives weren't much better.

David Harty suggested the budget should not be adopted until a council staffing review was complete,.. snrednek says: Legally the council has to set a budget.

Cllr Barry Chapman said: “Eynesbury and Loves Farm residents will not even get a bench or bus shelter let alone the community facilities those areas have long waited for and desperately need,”. snrednek says: Cllr Chapman should talk to Cllr Ursell and Cllr Hutton who are Parish Councillors in charge of EHPC (ends 1st April 2010) as to why Eynesbury residents wheren't provided with these communities facilities under their rule!