YOU report that Trowbridge council is taking total responsibility for 24 play areas for a lump sum payment from Wiltshire Council of £50,000; a real bargain – for Wiltshire Council. According to the minutes of the meeting when this was discussed, even some town councillors were concerned that the money was not sufficient.
You go on to say that the town council’s five-year investment plan shows a play area investment of £375,000. Two points of interest. Firstly, does this include the ‘pledged’ (by the town clerk and Councillor Andrews) £25,000 per year specific to the area of Paxcroft Mead which is moving into the town? Probably not.
Secondly, how is the town council actually intending to generate this money? By increasing its council tax over the five-year period by nearly 20% according to its own figures. Band D council tax is budgeted to increase from £139.64 to £164.64 per year.
Next May will see an ‘all out’ election for the town council. It would be an appropriate chance for the residents to reclaim control over their council which seems hell bent on spending their money for them without any real mandate to do so.
A concerned Trowbridge council tax payer
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