I've sent this to a couple of town councillors

Is it time to unparish Newbury?

Looking at these accounts, it seems the Lib Dems want to increase their share of our council tax by 4.6% from April (inflation is currently 0.9%), because they've decided to add another £50k to their annual budget.

http://www.newbury.gov.uk/2010-2011%20budget%20Final.pdf

If you can't be bothered to read through, the Town Council has a £1m annual income of which £850k comes from them taking £60 per household per year.

Looking through, it's easy to spot lots of ways to cut that £50k increase.

1. Withdraw from the neighbourhood warden scheme (saves £48k)
2. Stop subsidising the Town Centre Partnership (saves £4k)
3. Scrap the Town Council's promo video/town flag/newsletter (saves £5k)
4. Leave the hanging baskets/planters empty for a year (saves £9k)
5. Forego a pay rise (saves £8k).

None of the things we value are then jeopardised, but we save £66k in the process!

Frankly its time we 'un Parished' West Berkshire.  The concept is wholly outdated, expensive and unnecessary.  If people living in rural enclaves want to do 'something special' then they'll make their own arrangements.  In essence, having two rate collecting authorities makes the abolition of Berkshire a nonsense.

Quoted from Meddler

2. Stop subsidising the Town Centre Partnership (saves £4k)

West Berks also sponsor this unelected body to the tune of £26,000 per annum. I submit m' lord that this is a total waste of taxpayers money.

Quoted from Old Goat

Frankly its time we 'un Parished' West Berkshire.  The concept is wholly outdated, expensive and unnecessary.  If people living in rural enclaves want to do 'something special' then they'll make their own arrangements.  In essence, having two rate collecting authorities makes the abolition of Berkshire a nonsense.

Every other civil parish in West Berks has a rate collecting parish council - why should Newbury be different? The abolition of Berkshire County Council only removed one of the four tiers of government.

So, is Newbury a Civic Parish Council?


Threep.

"So, is Newbury a Civic Parish Council?"

It's a "parish-level" council.

How annoying, otherwise we could have led them a merry dance.


Threep.

Quoted from blackdog

Every other civil parish in West Berks has a rate collecting parish council - why should Newbury be different? The abolition of Berkshire County Council only removed one of the four tiers of government.

I meant every other parish should be abolished as well - 'de parish West Berkshire'  not one of them is worth the cost.

Quoted from Threepwood

So, is Newbury a Civic Parish Council?


Threep.

It's a Civil Parish, not a Parish.

Quoted from user23.3

It's a Civil Parish, not a Parish.

??

A Civil Parish is a parish, as is an Ecclesiastical Parish. Of course they used to be the same, and many still are, but the church has reorganised many of their parishes since the boundaries of their earlier parishes became part of the local government organisation.

Quoted from blackdog

??

A Civil Parish is a parish, as is an Ecclesiastical Parish. Of course they used to be the same, and many still are, but the church has reorganised many of their parishes since the boundaries of their earlier parishes became part of the local government organisation.

No, there's a difference between Newbury CP and the other parishes in Berkshire.

Quoted from user23.3

No, there's a difference between Newbury CP and the other parishes in Berkshire.

Which is?

The town councils have higher precepts than village parishes and paradoxically have more spent on them by WBC.

Apolitical Hungerford has gone for 1% increase for the coming year. Party political Newbury goes for 4.6%.  

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article.aspx?articleID=12067

Quoted from Meddler

The town councils have higher precepts than village parishes and paradoxically have more spent on them by WBC.

Apolitical Hungerford has gone for 1% increase for the coming year. Party political Newbury goes for 4.6%.  

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article.aspx?articleID=12067

'Town councils have higher precepts that village parishes'? Hardly surprising bearing in mind the greatly increased facilities and services available in the towns.

'Party political Newbury'? I hear the budget discussions at this week's council meeting (between Liberal Democrats and Conservatives) resulted in a unanimous agreement on the precept.

Quoted from John Ruskin

'Town councils have higher precepts that village parishes'? Hardly surprising bearing in mind the greatly increased facilities and services available in the towns.

But they have a larger number of people contributing and the facilities are often used by surrounding villages so why should we pay more??

Quoted from Nobby

But they have a larger number of people contributing and the facilities are often used by surrounding villages so why should we pay more??

We could argue for weeks about the relative fairness of the spend - those in town getting more facilities on their doorstep, those in remoter areas getting fewer but more costly services etc, etc,  But the fact is that public spending is not fair, it never has been and never will be.

Quoted from Nobby

But they have a larger number of people contributing and the facilities are often used by surrounding villages so why should we pay more??

Some of the money they get most also be down to the responsibilities that the town council has. For instance, Newbury Council runs quite a few of the labour intensive items Victoria park for instance, Shaw cemetery and Newbury market. They also run a Mayor which probably is not an expensive item but nevertheless is yet another cost. I'm not sure if the Town Hall maintenance is down to NTC.

Quoted from brian

Some of the money they get most also be down to the responsibilities that the town council has. For instance, Newbury Council runs quite a few of the labour intensive items Victoria park for instance, Shaw cemetery and Newbury market. They also run a Mayor which probably is not an expensive item but nevertheless is yet another cost. I'm not sure if the Town Hall maintenance is down to NTC.

Looking at the budget it seems that Shaw Cemetery and the Market make money - no excuse there for raising the precept.

Quoted from blackdog

Looking at the budget it seems that Shaw Cemetery and the Market make money - no excuse there for raising the precept.

But big increase in CAB funding next year. Good excuse for raising the precept surely?

Quoted from John Ruskin

But big increase in CAB funding next year. Good excuse for raising the precept surely?

How does that affect NTC.

Quoted from brian

How does that affect NTC.

NTC have agreed to increase funding of the Newbury Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB). An increase in the grant implies an increase in the precept, no?

Quoted from John Ruskin

NTC have agreed to increase funding of the Newbury Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB). An increase in the grant implies an increase in the precept, no?

Not necessarily, changes in the balance of the budget could be made without changing the precept.