Deputy Leader of Waverley Borough Council Cllr Tony Fairclough had this message for all those Band H council taxpayers who may want to dig deeper into their pockets.
Owners of Waverley’s largest homes could be asked to dig deeper for the common good.
Taxpayers are already digging too deep, it is time Waverley BC spent what taxpayers can afford to pay. It should look first at the generous grants that it makes and how much it subsidises Leisure Centres. Prudence is what is required for the common good. Waverley BC “Charity” Grants are in excess of £700,000 and Waverley taxpayers suffered nearly £2 million COVID uninsured Leisure Center losses during COVD.
I’m sure some will assist. But the elephant in the Cabinet in Westminster is the need for a re-evaluation of all property in England. Something every Government has put off for decades because it’s a vote loser. Instead, councils go around with a begging bowl. Soon they will have to flog the bowl.
One cold hard fact that won’t help those considering taking part in this gesture is the realisation on the part of the givers, is that their act of assistance will ultimately make no difference to their local situation. Inevitably it will go to a council that is destined to be subsumed by Guildford. Let’s take Elstead as a prime example. Its parish council constantly berates Waverley Borough Council over the fact that it pays in twice as much as it gets back. Earlier this year it even discussed charging for the use of its playing fields to people from outside its boundary. Then there is the matter of “I pay in extra I want more service than the herd. If I don’t get what I want I won’t give you the extra” and that puts pressure on a council that is reliant on these funds. And they will be reliant because things at WBC are going to get much worse. Much better to admit that Waverley is not viable as an entity, not helped by Farnham being politically shifted into North East Hampshire, and that gesture politics is no cure for anything, it merely drags out the suffering.
MeaninglessMud