NTC Service Budget, brace yourself for an 11% increase in the precept Options

[blackdog]

About all local government spending over £500 has to be published.

Does this apply at the parish level?

[Iommi]

In the news one year ago today!

Town hall staff were looking at sites to try and accommodate nearly 200 households on the waiting list.

Town and parish councils are legally obliged to find and buy sites for allotments, and with all allotment holders only paying 25% towards the running costs, Newbury Town Council meets next week to vote on ramping up the rent.

Despite current inflation rate of 0.3%, Lib-Dem run Newbury Town Council is planning to slap a 3% increase on allotment rents, which have already risen 17% in the last two years.

Next week (January 2010) councillors vote on whether to make new allotment holders pay five times more than existing growers.

http://www.newbury.net/forum/m-1262939126/s-/s-new/

I wonder if Simon Kirby has an ideas on how to help the council out of its predicament?

[dannyboy]

What is the latest on the imminent rise?

[David Allen]

What is the latest on the imminent rise?

Latest is as reported here:

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article...articleID=15589

Regards

[dannyboy]

Latest is as reported here:

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article...articleID=15589

Regards

So not an 11% rise?

[David Allen]

So not an 11% rise?

Um, no. If our Budget is ratified by Full Council on January 24th (7.30pm in NTC Chamber - public very welcome) then it's a zero per cent increase for 2011/2012.

So a Band D householder will pay the same as this year - £71.97 per annum.

Regards

[Simon Kirby]

Um, no. If our Budget is ratified by Full Council on January 24th (7.30pm in NTC Chamber - public very welcome) then it's a zero per cent increase for 2011/2012.

So a Band D householder will pay the same as this year - £71.97 per annum.

Regards

How will the Council balance that budget? Expenditure has increased but revenure stays the same. Are you going to fund it from reserves?

Will you say why the Town Council continues to suppress discussion of allotment self-management when it could save the tax-payer around £75k?

Can you say why the tax-payer funds the Christmas Lights to the tune of £50k when the TCP only coughs up £1k - and can you say why your accounts try to say it's £5k? And why are you prostrating yourselves before Standard Life Investments "to ensure effective retail integration" - will they be picking up the bill now?

Can you say why the tax-payer should pay the best part of £20k to keep the ailing market alive?

Out of interest David, councillors claim around 60p/mile for travel expenses - can you tell me if they declare that in their income tax return?

Hope those questions aren't too vexatious for you.

[Simon Kirby]

Sorry David, just another quick question: Why does Newbury Town Council fund the Greenham Community Centre when it's in the parish of Greenham?

[dannyboy]

How will the Council balance that budget? Expenditure has increased but revenure stays the same. Are you going to fund it from reserves?

Will you say why the Town Council continues to suppress discussion of allotment self-management when it could save the tax-payer around £75k?

Can you say why the tax-payer funds the Christmas Lights to the tune of £50k when the TCP only coughs up £1k - and can you say why your accounts try to say it's £5k? And why are you prostrating yourselves before Standard Life Investments "to ensure effective retail integration" - will they be picking up the bill now?

Can you say why the tax-payer should pay the best part of £20k to keep the ailing market alive?

Out of interest David, councillors claim around £60p/mile for travel expenses - can you tell me if they declare that in their income tax return?

Hope those questions aren't too vexatious for you.

Ouch.

[Simon Kirby]

Don't forget dannyboy, the LibDems came to the Community Resources Committee with a service budget proposal spending 13.0% more than last year while collecting 3.2% less revenue, so you don't need to be Adam Smith to see that to balancce that you need a substantial increase in the precept. But bless their fluffy little heads, on the night they cut their revenues even further, and froze the precept, without a thought for doing something about their crippling inefficiency!

So in the middle of a financial crisis precipitated by reckless borrowing, the townhall wonders are going to borrow to balance the budget. Why in the name of Brian of Nazareth would they do that? Why, oh why, oh why? Oh wait, isn't 2011 an election year?

[dannyboy]

Don't forget dannyboy, the LibDems came to the Community Resources Committee with a service budget proposal spending 13.0% more than last year while collecting 3.2% less revenue, so you don't need to be Adam Smith to see that to balancce that you need a substantial increase in the precept. But bless their fluffy little heads, on the night they cut their revenues even further, and froze the precept, without a thought for doing something about their crippling inefficiency!

So in the middle of a financial crises precipitated by reckless borrowing, the townhall wonders are going to borrow to balance the budget. Why in the name of Brian of Nazareth would they do that? Why, oh why, oh why? Oh wait, isn't 2011 an election year?

I thought your spat with the NTC was about increase in the allotment charge being unfair.

[blackdog]

Out of interest David, councillors claim around £60p/mile for travel expenses - can you tell me if they declare that in their income tax return?

Not quite sure what £60p is but travel expenses such as these are not taxable so there is no need to declare them. See HM Revenue & Customs, Tax Guide 480 section 16.2 on Approved Mileage Allowance Payments.

[JeffG]

Not quite sure what £60p is but travel expenses such as these are not taxable

I was under the impression that the approved rate is 40p/mile, not 60p.

[blackdog]

Sorry David, just another quick question: Why does Newbury Town Council fund the Greenham Community Centre when it's in the parish of Greenham?

I can answer this one - quite simple really.

Greenham Community Centre is in the Nightingales - which is in the parish of Newbury (civil parish), Pyle Hill ward.

[Richard Garvie]

I was under the impression that the approved rate is 40p/mile, not 60p.

If it is 60p, that's more generous than I've ever got from an employer!!! Is it published anywhere?

[Simon Kirby]

Not quite sure what £60p is but travel expenses such as these are not taxable so there is no need to declare them. See HM Revenue & Customs, Tax Guide 480 section 16.2 on Approved Mileage Allowance Payments.

Sorry for the typo, it's corrected now - should have read 60p/mile.

As I understand it HMRC don't tax milage allowances of 40p/mile and under (for the first 10,000 miles) but anything over that is a taxable benefit. Is that not right? See HMRC here.

So as an example, a councillor claiming 60p per mile for a 333 mile journey will, as far as HMRC is concerned, have made £66.6 profit which would need to be declared. It's not an unreasonable position as fuel costs around 11p per mile for a modern car and 29p per mile is a generous allowance for insurance, tax, and wear and tear.

It's also worth noting that for a 333 mile journey, rather than claim a very generous £200 milage allowance paid for by the tax-payer, a prudent town councillor might hire a car for the day for around £50, and claim another £50 for fuel, and save the tax-payer £100.

I just wondered what David might think of that.

[JeffG]

If it is 60p, that's more generous than I've ever got from an employer!!! Is it published anywhere?

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/rates/travel.htm

[Simon Kirby]

If it is 60p, that's more generous than I've ever got from an employer!!! Is it published anywhere?

You have to snoop Richard! Councillors' expenses are itemised on the Schedule of Payments annexed to the agenda of every Policy and Resources Committee. So knowing that the councillors' annual allowance is £65, and knowing that, say, Lincoln is a 333 mile round trip you can work out the milage allowance.

It's a game all the family can play: can you find the councillor who claimed £20 cleaning expenses after his trousers became "water damaged"?

[Simon Kirby]

I can answer this one - quite simple really.

Greenham Community Centre is in the Nightingales - which is in the parish of Newbury (civil parish), Pyle Hill ward.

Thanks for that.

[Richard Garvie]

You have to snoop Richard! Councillor's expenses are itemised on the Schedule of Payments annexed to the agenda of every Policy and Resources Committee. So knowing that the councillors' annual allowance is £65, and knowing that, say, Lincoln is a 333 mile round trip you can work out the milage allowance.

It's a game all the family can play: can you find the councillor who claimed £20 cleaning expenses after his trousers became "water damaged"?

"Water damaged"?