Trowbridge Town Council jobs would be lost under Tory budget

Under proposals outlined by Tory group leader Cllr Daniel Cave, jobs would be lost in Active Trowbridge, Trowbridge Museum, neighbourhood services and in information services.

The community events and venues team at The Civic Centre and at Longfield Community Centre could be contracted out to a private operator or posts made redundant.

Neighbourhood services such as grass-cutting and street cleaning, which the council recently took over from Wiltshire Council, could also be contracted out to private companies.

Outlining his proposals at a policy and resources committee meeting on January 9, Cllr Cave, said his alternative budget would result in a net precept requirement of £2,659,653, taking the Trowbridge Town Council Band D Council Tax to £222.93, an increase of £2.61 or 1.19 per cent.

Cllr Cave said he was left with "no choice" but to publish details over the Christmas period because of the need to disclose them before Tuesday's meeting, meaning that staff first found out on December 27 that under his proposals some jobs could go.

Councillor Stewart Palmen and Town Clerk Lance Allen listen to the alternative budget put for forward by Cllr Daniel Cave. Photo: Trevor Porter 70490-3, (Image: Trevor Porter)

Cllr Cave accused the council’s chief executive Lance Allan of a “deliberate attempt” – which the town clerk strongly denied - to undermine his alternative budget by failing to provide the figures he required.

He added: “I have been very clear that the information needed for this was withheld from me. The town clerk’s office delayed in providing essential information. I still do not have the essential information I requested. Not only requested but needed.

“I am more than happy to provide a chronological history of the repeated requests which I believe demonstrates a deliberate attempt to undermine my budget from being drafted.”

But Mr Allan said the overall impact would be to reduce the council’s 69 full-time staff to just 31 under the plans outlined by the Conservative opposition group.

Mr Allan said: “The alternative budget has been costed based upon a reduced level of service for a number of service areas, in some cases significant reductions in service levels. In many cases the level of reduction would be contrary to the council's adopted strategy 2021-2025.

“The alternative budget has an overall effect of reducing the staff compliment at the town council from 69.06 FTEs to 31.38 FTEs, with the remaining 37.68 FTEs being TUPE transferred or made redundant. This is likely to lead to issues relating to job retention and recruitment for the council.”

Trowbridge Town Council’s Policy & Resources committee assemble for the budget meeting. Photo: Trevor Porter 70490-1 (Image: Trevor Porter)

The P&R meeting was moved from the Pitman Room to a larger room at The Civic to accommodate all the council staff and members of the public who wanted to attend.

The committee voted against the alternative budget, which will now be debated by all councillors at next Tuesday’s full council meeting before they set the precept for 2024/25.

Council leader Stewart Palmen said he wants to give “all councillors" an opportunity to debate and vote on the alternative budget proposals, which are unlikely to be passed by full council.

But they are likely to open up a clear political divide between the Conservative group and the Liberal Democrats who control the town council in the run up to the local elections in May 2025.

The P&R committee approved the town clerk’s budget, which calls for a net precept requirement of £3,228,982, way above the alternative budget’s figure.

This would result in a total increase of £50.34 or 22.85 per cent on the Trowbridge Town Council Band D Council Tax charge to £270.65, which is less than £5.21 per week.

Several LibDem councillors defended the increase, saying it was necessary to invest in Wiltshire’s county town to provide the essential services that residents and visitors expect to receive.