On 15 Nov 2015 at 8:17pm Paul wrote:
Our local parish council spend a million pounds a year. A significant chunk of this is spent on administration. How many 0other towns in Sussex have to fund 3 councils at this level !?
On 15 Nov 2015 at 8:38pm The squeezed middle wrote:
Hmmm I wonder if we paid for Susan Murrays leftish 'refugees welcome ' banner that hung from the town hall a couple of weeks ago?
On 15 Nov 2015 at 8:56pm Pat wrote:
if you mean Lewes Town Council then its worse than you think - of the £1 million over £400,000 is spent on wages and expenses. Apart from the bloke who runs the pells pool (who says he is paid by the pells association direct) and the lady who takes the booking at All saints I'm not sure who they are employing to run a parish council.
I liked the banner and good to see I get something for the mill.
On 15 Nov 2015 at 11:24pm Council Tax Payer wrote:
If I'm reading the eagles correctly, Lewes Town Council spends £780K a year, and takes £133 a year per Band D property in council tax to achieve this.
In contrast, Chichester City Council spends £504K a year, and takes £49 a year per Band D property in council tax.
Lewes Town has a population of 17K, Chichester City has 27K.
On 15 Nov 2015 at 11:26pm Council Tax Payer wrote:
The spend figures are net - after taking account of income.
On 15 Nov 2015 at 11:28pm Council Tax Payer wrote:
And, for "eagles", read "leaflets". Sorry.
On 16 Nov 2015 at 8:16am Accountant wrote:
These figures don't actually mean much, you need to give us the average council tax per person to be able to compare the two towns
On 16 Nov 2015 at 8:49am Council Tax Payer wrote:
The discussion started on the theme of spending by the parish level local authority. Assuming the average person lives in a band D property, the average council tax paid for parish services in Lewes is £133. In Chichester it is £49.
This is a standard way of comparing the levels of spending by different councils.
On 16 Nov 2015 at 10:22am Selfish Git wrote:
Lewes council tax rates are ridiculously high by any standards, without services being noticeably any more efficient than in other parts of the UK where I have lived (and paid half the rates)
On 16 Nov 2015 at 11:02am Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
Lewes council tax was the highest for a "shire district" council at one time. It's still in the top ten most expensive, but is now down to about 7.
Lewes district is also the worst council area I have lived in when it comes to efficiency.
On 16 Nov 2015 at 3:20pm Merlin Milner wrote:
Comparing with Chichester City Council (Parish Council) may seem sensible but the range of services and buildings that it manages are fewer. Pat come and have a chat with me or any other Councillor and we can fill you on Lewes Town Council does.
On 16 Nov 2015 at 7:26pm Clifford wrote:
Merlin, I like the way you come on here and always have something relevant and interesting to say. But is it any way to run a council that residents have to come in and 'have a chat' to see how things are run? That information should be at our fingertips without the need for one-to-ones with councillors.
On 16 Nov 2015 at 7:53pm The Old Mayor wrote:
I've said it before and I'll say it again, why the hell do we need 3 councils, an MP, and an MEP ! Gravy train !!
On 16 Nov 2015 at 9:03pm Paul wrote:
Don't forget the police commissioner - election in May - full election costs for a 10% turnout. Haha
On 16 Nov 2015 at 10:08pm The Old Mayor wrote:
Isn't Ann Barnes value for money !!!
On 16 Nov 2015 at 10:43pm Fred wrote:
Merlin Milner needs to make a better case for LDC and what they do. Mr !ilner can I come and see you as you have offered on this forum.
Will I get an invite, let's see.
On 17 Nov 2015 at 12:42am Red wrote:
Mr Milner is concerned with Lewes Town Council not LDC Fred
On 17 Nov 2015 at 7:11am Phfellow2004 wrote:
The Old Mayor quite rightly jokes about Ann Barnes, the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner, who was dreadful from the first day she was elected! In Sussex, we elected Katy Bourne who has been a massive success (one of the few in England and Wales) and she certainly deserves to be re-elected even if there is a small turn out again.
On 17 Nov 2015 at 10:43am Dot and Carry One wrote:
Clifford - try directing those fingertips to the website. it's got their budget and full accounts and plenty of stuff on what they do (which is a lot more than Chichester). But full marks to Merlin for offering to explain it all.
Pat - you could do to read the website too. There wouldn't be a Pells Pool if the Town Council hadn't stepped in, and they still pay for it. The Priory would still be wrapped in barbed wire if the District Council had their way, and the Town Hall would probably have fallen down by now. All Saints would have closed, and there's actually three people at All Saints and they do more than just take bookings.
Accountant - same place if you want the cost per person (its £48 by the way). It would take an accountant to try and compare two towns!
Band D property paying Eleven quid a month - Bargain!
On 18 Nov 2015 at 4:11pm Clifford wrote:
Point taken Dot and Carry One.
On 19 Nov 2015 at 9:10pm Pat wrote:
hold on - the pells and all saints don't take the money - they take a fraction - it's all admin - for a million the pells would have changing rooms and toilets like a health club. It's not great value its doubling or tripling up councils. When the cinema opens then I assume the all saints cinema will close anyway - what a bizarre thing for a local council to run.