Canterbury City Council is on the verge of stopping its cash support for Parish Councils across the district – including Wickhambreaux’s.
At a committee meeting this Thursday (August 06th) it will claim that stopping Parish Council support is part of a cost-cutting exercise and that it will save the Council less than £140,000 a year in total. Wickhambreaux’s share of that is about £5,500 a year and is spent on looking after public areas (especially grass and trees).
The grant (known as concurrent funding) was originally made when the city council asked parishes to take over services in the 24 parishes of the Canterbury district area. It felt parish councils could deliver them better. The grant was financial recompense as it also saved the City Council money.
Now the City Council wants to phase that cash out over four years – or less. It expects parish councils to make up the loss by either charging more on the parish rates (the parish precept), increase charges and fund raising or cutting the services.
The same approach does not apply to the urban areas of Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay. An inconsistency known as double taxation for parish council tax payers.
The detailed committee report setting out the proposals (and how you can voice an opinion) can be found at: https://democracy.canterbury.
Councillor Robin Treacher, Chairman of Wickhambreaux Parish Council said: “The consequence of this change in policy – coming at a time when local services and communities have never been more important to the nation’s health – is Wickhambreaux PC will have to consider annual parish rate increases well above inflation just to stand still over the next four years.
It is possible the City Council will just suddenly stop the grant next year. That would leave a big hole in our budget.”