Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

My take on a few local topics.
District Council news from Ernie Clark, your Independent district councillor for Hilperton, Semington and Staverton parishes.

The biggest concern to most people at the moment is probably "How much is my council tax going to increase in April?"

Well, the budget process is well underway and it would appear that the WWDC administration is aiming to keep the increase below 5%; the projected figure is either 4.99% or 4.5%. Allowing for the fact that the council received a more generous than expected settlement from Westminster, it makes one wonder where our money is going.

Looking at some discussion papers it is interesting to note that Trowbridge could do nicely out of this process; £15k for Southwick Country Park, £10k towards the museum and a new ‘town development officer’ at a cost of some £30k. I'm sure the fact that 3 out of 8 Cabinet members, including the Leader, represent Trowbridge Wards has nothing to do with this.

Proposed savings, however, are widely spread and include £5k from arts development, £1.5k taken from community grants, £4k from play area grants and a £3.75k saving by not index linking the grants to larger organisations such as the Citizen Advice Bureau.

Whilst I was on the Cabinet I came to realise what a financial tightrope WWDC walks, but I find these cuts very hard to stomach when new jobs are being created for no apparent reason other than, seemingly, to massage one or two egos.

Your other district councillor (Trevor Carbin) is the current finance portfolio holder at WWDC and I’m sure he would be interested to hear your views.

As mentioned a couple of months ago, Marshgate has decided to go to a Public Inquiry over the refusal to grant planning permission for the pub at Paxcroft Mead (it’s been turned down three times). The date has now been set for Tuesday February 7th, commencing at 10.00am. It will be held in the council chamber at Bradley Road and is open to the public who may also speak if they are invited to do so by the Inspector. I intend to go along to put the views of local people and the parish council; let’s hope that the Inspector will see the logic of why the plans have been consistently refused by the WWDC planning committee.