What is going on with Marlborough Town Council?

The Gazette has highlighted that the allegedly cash-strapped town council has £100,000 to spend thanks to the retiring Kennet’s largesse. Apparently, it has been decided that this money will be splurged on the (essential) disabled access to its town hall.

Not content with asking a local builder for a quote, the council has formed a working group and employed an architect. No doubt we will get an over-engineered solution.

This is the same council that set a record last year for its council tax precept, on the grounds that it needed to levy a one-off large rise after years of alleged mismanagement.

Last week’s Gazette recounted the story about a proposal to levy a county-record council tax precept for this coming year. In case the councillors haven’t heard, there’s a recession in full swing.

I run a small business. It would be nice to ask my customers to pay more to make up the shortfall in my spending plans, but my competitors won’t let me. I have to make savings within my business.

So I get a bit wound up when I hear stories about our town council, which apparently is awash with cash, but apparently has its collective head stuck in Downland chalk. Maybe I’ve missed the point of local government.

I thought we paid a sensible level of rates so that these people can run the town’s affairs responsibly our behalf.

The next time you are mulling the nation’s poor state over a pint of 6X, spare a thought that your local council may also be intent on pulling the carpet out from under your feet. It’s time for some of these guys to get real or consider their futures.

Peter Morgan Marlborough