OSDM.3/17
Members considered a report that asked for
consideration of the draft Budget proposals for 2018-19.
In
introducing this agenda item, the Chairman highlighted the need for
the Meeting to focus on making recommendations to the Executive on
how the Council should close the projected Budget gap of
£345,688.
In
discussion, reference was made to:-
(a)
the Business Rate Pilot status funding.
Members requested receipt of information outlining the terms of the
bid and what was being proposed within these terms;
(b)
the unfairness of the Central Government funding
provision. In expressing his deep
frustrations at the unfairness in the Council’s Settlement
Funding Assessment, a Member PROPOSED the following
motion:-
‘That the unfairness of Central
Government Funding for Shire District Councils be brought to the
attention of our local MPs, with them both being encouraged to ask
a parliamentary question on this point during the weekly Prime
Ministers Question Time.’
This proposal was subsequently SECONDED and
when being put to the vote was declared CARRIED.
(c)
the proposal to install Beach Huts. For
future 2018/19 draft Budget Setting reports, it was agreed that
reference within the title to ‘North and South
Sands’ should be deleted;
(d)
any public conveniences transfer to a local town/parish
council. A Member asked that it be
recognised that town and larger parish councils often had greater
capacity and resilience to be able to take on such additional
responsibilities. In response, these
disparities were acknowledged and assurances were given that, if
approved, time had been built into the Programme to enable for a
detailed consultation exercise to be undertaken before any savings
would be realised.
Specifically regarding those public conveniences
highlighted in the presented agenda report at South Milton, the
view was expressed that the National Trust (who generated
significant income in this particular location) should take on
responsibility for providing these facilities. Officers responded by giving an assurance that all
interested third parties would be contacted as part of the
consultation process in this regard;
(e)
the proposal to cease accepting cash and cheques at Council premises
(excluding Car Parks). A lengthy
discussion on this proposal ensued during which a number of Members
expressed their concern that this would have a particular impact on
elderly residents. Also, whilst
reference was made to the ability to pay via Paypoint or the Post Office, this view was
countered by some Members stating that villages such as South Brent
no longer had a high street bank or Post Office
facility.
At this point, the Chairman invited a show of hands
on how many Members did not support the proposal to cease
accepting cash and cheques at Council premises. In so doing, exactly half (9 of the 18 Members
in attendance) were unsupportive of this proposal.
To reflect the general sense amongst the meeting,
the Chairman proceeded to invite a show of hands on a proposal to
discontinue accepting cash and cheques at Council premises
(excluding Car Parks), whilst still retaining a postal
...
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