Public meeting for controversial tax hike plans (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Public meeting for controversial tax hike plans

5:08pm Friday 12th October 2007

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COUNCILLORS are to decide whether to take out an extra £150,000 loan to move the renovation of Malmesbury Town Hall upstairs - and put another £6 on council tax bills.

Work has started on the first phase ground floor transformation, which is being partly funded by a £500,000 loan.

But the project board behind the scheme wants to apply for another loan to revamp the first floor.

The controversial suggestion is expected to be given a rough ride at an extraordinary meeting of the council due to be held on Tuesday.

Town clerk Jeff Penfold said the principle of taking out another loan had been agreed some time ago when the board was waiting for a payment of £150,000 as part of a legal agreement over the Riverside housing development on the Lucent site.

There was a worry that the cash would not be received in time, so he was given the authority to borrow £150,000 as a safety net rather than wait.

The money has since been paid, but board members, who have been criticised by some in the town for not concentrating the project on the first floor function rooms, have turned their sights on the second phase.

Mr Penfold said: "The project board met and asked the architect to come back with what could be done with the upstairs for that sort of budget."

He has drawn up and costed out a plan that would see new toilets installed upstairs, a small re-fitted kitchen and new entrances for the Hobbes Room and the council chamber from the landing.

The leaky flat roof leading into the Oxford Room would also be replaced.

Mr Penfold explained that because the negotiations for the extra work had been done with the contractor already on site, a cheaper deal had been worked out.

If councillors vote to apply for the loan it will mean around £6 added to the bill for a band D property in the town.

"That is not taking into account any rise necessary for inflation or to cover cutbacks in district council services."

This year residents saw an average £10 a year increase in the precept, partly to cover the costs of running the hall after it was handed over by North Wiltshire District Council and before repayments for the £500,000 loan kick in.

And the project was dealt a blow earlier this year when it was told a £200,000 Big Lottery bid had been turned down because cash was being diverted to paying for the 2012 Olympics.

The meeting is at 7pm in the town hall.

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