Increased council tax slated by district councillors (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Increased council tax slated by district councillors

A DECISION to increase South Cerney Parish Council's annual precept by £10,000 has been slated by one of the village's three district councillors.

But Tory Clive Bennett, whose district party colleagues have caused anger through their massive increase in parking charges, has been told to look closer to home before criticising others.

Cllr Bennett attacked the parish council when it was revealed the authority is increasing its budget from £51,065 in 2004/5 to £61,295 in 2005/6.

This means the average band D council tax payer will have to fork out £45.94 for the parish's share of the bill - an increase of £7.44 on last year.

The council says the money is needed to help pay for a number of projects, including the building of a new base for the village playgroup and refurbishing the area's three playgrounds.

But Cllr Bennett said: "If a district or county council had attempted to increase its council tax by a similar percentage it would have been capped by Government.

"But the 11 councillors at South Cerney can just go ahead and spend someone else's money with impunity.

"Residents ask yourselves - just what do you get for that money? Not a lot."

However, parish council chairman Mike Stuart says Cllr Bennett has got a nerve to pass judgement considering the anger generated by CDC's controlling Tories.

They have more than doubled parking charges and CDC jobs are going in a bid to keep council tax increases low.

Mr Stuart said the schemes being funded by the parish council were actually requested by local residents.

He added: "There are a lot of them in South Cerney with sweet damn all for them to do.

"We don't have the facility, as the Conservatives do, to slam a massive hike on car parking charges in South Cerney.

"It's the pot calling the kettle black. He (Cllr Bennett) hasn't got any high ground of which to pontificate."

o Cirencester Town Council set its own precept last week at £491,630 - an increase of just under three percent on last year.

This means that the average Band D taxpayer will fork out £72.72 for the town council's share of the bill in 2005/6, compared with £71.24 for 2004/5.