10:58am Tuesday 25th November 2008
By Alana Lewis
Two Calne town councillors have quit after a decision to triple the council tax precept at a meeting last night.
Councillors John Ireland and Dave Bland stood down after a vote was taken to increase the precept by 33 per cent.
In a resignation e-mail Mr Ireland, 61, said: “I am unable to support or condone the morally reprehensible decision to increase the council tax precept that was proposed and accepted by the other members at a voting base of eight for and six against.
“Whilst I believe wholeheartedly in the democratic process I have to say that my resignation is a matter of conscience and as I am against this (democratic) decision I am left with only one alternative.
“I am sure that the good people of Calne will stand in judgement upon those who have so cruelly betrayed their trust.”
The town council proposed the hike to help maintain the new Beversbrook Sports Field, but an average household will pay an extra £49.38 a year to cover the costs - an increase of more than 33 per cent on last year.
At the meeting Mr Bland said: “This council does not support the public and so I am forced to resign too. This is an immoral decision.”
People living in an average Band D property in Calne now pay £146.73 to the town council and next year this will rise to £196.11.
Coun Alan Hill said: “Many years ago it was agreed by the council that it would be a good thing for Calne to have a sports field and work was done to investigate the means to fund such a project. Eventually, it was agreed that sufficient funding could be raised to make the project viable and it was resolved by the council to proceed.
“We are now at the point where the project is complete. Beversbrook Sports Field exists, it has recently been handed over to Calne Town Council and is now our responsibility.
“A 96 acre sports field requires an expensive maintenance program and unfortunately, due to a lack of foresight in my opinion, money was not set aside when it was available to create a fund to finance the necessary maintenance costs.
“Consequently, the finance working group believes that the present town council has no choice but to raise the necessary funding by increasing the precept.”
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