5% Hike in Council Tax proposal sparks ‘insulting’ remark
A councillor sparked an unforeseen row when he compared a Telford & Wrekin Council finance chief to a legendary astrologer, Mystic Meg.
According to Conservative group leader Andrew Eade (Church Aston and Lilleshall) the work of the council’s finance director is comparable to Ms Meg’s star-gazing because of unknown information.
Officials and leading councillors typically receive mountains of key funding data from the Government just before Christmas and often work over the festive period to rapidly compile a proposed budget.
Opposition Councillor Eade told Tuesday’s meeting of the ruling Labour cabinet that he thought “the financial director, if you will excuse the analogy, must be a bit like Mystic Meg with a crystal ball trying to sort out the future”.
The former council leader admitted that a three-year agreement from the Government “does help” but the task is still “almost impossible”. He also praised the work of the officer team.
Labour Councillor Shirley Reynolds did not excuse the analogy.
The cabinet member for children and young people, learning, employment and skills said: “I personally find the term Mystic Meg really insulting to a professional officer.”
The councillor for Wrockwardine Wood and Trench said the comparison was “making fun” of the skill and hard work needed to prepare a budget over Christmas ready for consultation to start.
This year’s proposed budget will see council taxes rise by 5 per cent with all of the extra money going into adult social care.
Councillors had differing views on the £1.20-per-week Band B proposal.
The Tory leader said there is “no need to put it up to that level” and added that his party could no longer be blamed for cuts, now put at £195 million.
“Whose side are you on?” asked Councillor Eade, challenging councillors across the political divide.
Labour cabinet members, while saying they regretted the need to increase council tax, said the money would make sure local people in need can continue to be cared for.
Councillor Reynolds praised it as a “proper Labour budget” with her party colleagues lining up to state that the borough would still have the “lowest council tax in the Midlands”.
Liberal Democrat group leader Bill Tomlinson (Shawbirch and Dothill) said: “It is high but how can we cover costs?
“Our first responsibility is to look after the most vulnerable.”
Councillor Carolyn Healy (Labour, Ironbridge) the cabinet member for neighbourhoods, planning and sustainability, said a consultation has been launched which is “not just for the public”.
She added that the consultation will be seeking ideas, including from “opposition groups” so that they can also put forward “what they want to do instead”.
One Mystic Meg style prediction made on the night by Councillor Ollie Vickers (Labour, Donnington) that the Conservatives would “vote against the budget” was put on hold by Councillor Eade.
The top Tory said he would wait for the outcome of the consultation.
The budget is due to be set in stone at a meeting of the full council on February 26.
Why is the council tax not going to be led by the rate of inflation set at the end of October, which if I recall was around 3.4%
To say we have the lowest council tax in the midlands is an insult. Telford and Wrekin is a completely different area with different needs and should be assessed purely on our own merits rather than comparing to other areas.
Seems to me it’s a case of dip your hands in your pockets a bit deeper, never mind looking at ways councils waste money to streamline services.
How people are meant to afford this is mind boggling.
How can a rate higher than inflation be fair,
How can we be expected to live when things are priced more than we can earn!
Live within your means,you people live in a make believe world. Just looking at the picture of the meeting room with all those expensive TV screens, expensive desk chairs and probably a lot of other items that the public are not aware of. When I read that Labour comment that you are all professional ,you are no different from us,I am a retired soldier/and prison officer probably more professional than many councillors.Some of you people want to try living in the real world ,not being picture framed in every newspaper+TV-radio crew.I have lived in Telford 45 years this is the worst labour council I have had the misfortune to live with,some of you have your heads stuck so far up your backsides it’s like living in an Asylum with idiots. I make no apologies for these comments I have worked around the world with many different people but you lot are at the bottom of the pile.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!’
Robert. Morrow very well said,i have been involved with trying to find information about my lane ,cannot get a straight answer ,either ignored or given a wrong answer they are now threatening to take me to court , they seen to have staff who don’t have a clue what they are doing, but oh so quick with the threatening letters