Kick in teeth (From Malvern Gazette)

Kick in teeth

9:20am Wednesday 8th February 2012 in Letters

ERIC Pickles has recently said councils have a “moral duty” not to increase tax; any increase will be a “kick in the teeth for hard working decent taxpayers.”

The Conservators recently approved increasing their levy by 5.4 per cent.

This was on the advice of their financial consultant.

Is this the same financial consultant who, together with the Conservators’ auditor, recommended accounts presented to the 2011 annual meeting that were incorrect?

The error, an understatement of liabilities amounting to approximately £25,000, was noticed by two members of the public, which led to the adjournment of the annual meeting and the revision of the accounts.

The Conservators spent £100,000 last year on legal costs for the St Ann’s Well saga. Should the public pay for this which was of the Conservators’ own making?

Also the levy is not charged to many residents living in areas adjacent to Conservator land.

Welland, Castlemorton, Callow End and Newlands residents do not pay the levy due to an administrative error dating back to decimalisation in 1972.

Attempts to put this right have been half-hearted over the years and it results in the levy not being collected from residents in these areas leading to a shortfall of approximately £60,000.

If the Conservators accepted their moral duty and acted positively and professionally the levy would be reduced by 5.4 per cent or more, not increased.

BOB TILLEY
Malvern