Dear Sir,

On Tuesday 29th September, the Leader of the Labour Group on the Town Council, met with the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Independents, together with Senior Officers present, and agreed that the Council Tax would be frozen for the next Financial Year 2021/2022.

The Finance Officer stated this at Environment Committee on Wednesday 25th November. The relevant Committees of the Council have also gone through their cycle of meetings, approving the budgets on this basis.

In November 2019, Officers and Councillors, Labour and Independent, examined electric vehicles and electric grounds maintenance equipment with a view to investing in zero emission, carbon neutral vehicles and equipment. The Council has an ongoing program of doing just that, replacing vehicles and equipment as and when the time comes for replacing each item.

It has a medium term financial plan, as well as long term, in which the assets and liabilities of the Council are planned for over five to ten years or more (replacement, renewal, repair and so forth). By investing for the long term, the Council is able to manage cost effectively. The Council has always and continues to invest and plan well ahead. The Audit Control Sub Committee, the Asset Management Sub Committee as well as all Committees and Sub Committees constantly monitor and question all aspects of the Council’s performance and savings, and investment is a constant ongoing process. The Council produces weekly account control sheets itemising every item of spending, enabling members and the public to question anything, at any time, with Officers by email or phone. Rather than just cheap political point scoring. Our Capital Reserves have been built up prudently and wisely, over many years, and actually mostly allocated for replacement and maintenance of existing buildings, equipment and so forth. By proper planning over the long term this Council is in a better position than most to weather Covid-19 and Government and County Council cuts to our budget, without adding to the burden on the Council Taxpayer.

In 2007 a group of ‘loonies’ nearly got control of the Town Council, after promising to cut Council Tax by 50%! They won 15 out of 30 seats (but two defected to Labour four weeks after the election). It’s funny though, once they got elected they did absolutely nothing to reduce Council Tax nor freeze it.

We believe in a low Council Tax whilst providing the range of services and facilities that we do for the local community. Sometimes you have to do things which aren’t economic if you live in a civilised, humane society. It’s making sure we provide the best value for money in providing those facilities and services and ensuring they are sustainable.

If we didn’t have those facilities and services, consider how less enriched our local community would be. We have an open mind and continue to strive to ensure that the Council provides value for money, but we will never sell off public land or assets to private developers, nor cut services purely to cut Council Tax for political advantage.

The one who plants trees knowing that he will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life.

Cllr. Arun M. Chandran

Independent

 

Full Speech of Cllr A M Chandran at the Policy & Resources meeting on 2.12.2020:

Mr Chairman, On Tuesday 29th September, Cllr Bob Fleming , the Leader of the controlling Labour Group  on the Town Council, met with the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Independents, to consult, together with Senior Officers present, and we agreed unanimously that the Council Tax should be frozen for the next Financial Year 2021/2022. On behalf of the Independents, I thank Bob and the Labour Group for listening and consulting.

The Finance Officer stated this commitment at Environment Committee last week. And the relevant Committees of the Council have just now gone through their cycle of meetings approving the budgets on this basis.

The Council has Medium Term Financial Plans and Long Term, in which the assets and liabilities of the Council are planned for over 5 to 10 years and more, replacement, renewal, repair and so forth.

By investing this way for the long term, over many years, the Council is able to manage cost effectively, producing savings and efficiencies. The Audit Control Sub Committee, the Asset Management Sub Committee, as well as all Committees and sub committees constantly monitor and question all aspects of the Council’s performance, savings, expenditure and investment, it is a constant ongoing process.

The Council produces weekly account control sheets itemising every item of spending, enabling Councillors and the public to question everything at any time with Officers by email or phone or in person.

Our Capital Reserves have been built up prudently and wisely over many years, by Bob Fleming, Malcolm Iveson, and others, and, as a matter of fact, most of the Capital is not sitting there doing nothing, apart from gathering  interest, (which incidentally could be better used on a certain Councillors pipe tobacco allowance), most of it is actually allocated, for replacement and maintenance of existing buildings, equipment, facilities and so forth in the many many years ahead.

By proper planning over the long term this Council is in a better position than most Town and Parish Councils, to weather Covid-19 and successive cuts to our budget, and whatever the future may hold, without adding to the burden on the Council Taxpayer.

In November 2019, Officers and Councillors (Labour & Independent) examined Electric vehicles and Electric Grounds Maintenance equipment with a view to investing in Zero emission, carbon neutral,  vehicles and equipment.

In 2007 a group of people,  nearly got control of the Town Council after promising to cut Council Tax by 50%. They won 15 out of 30 seats (but two defected to Labour just two weeks after that election). It’s funny though, because once they got elected they did absolutely nothing to reduce Council Tax nor to Freeze it.

We believe in a low Council Tax, Who doesn’t?

Sometimes you have to do things which aren’t economic if you live in a civilised, humane society.

It’s a matter of providing the best value for money in providing those facilities and services and ensuring they are sustainable for the long term. You must consider this, if we didn’t have those facilities and services, how less enriched our local community would be.

We have an open mind, and despite some differences, we Independents, and I am sure Labour too,    will never sell off public land or assets to private developers nor cut services purely to reduce Council Tax for a short term political advantage.

Once elections are over, taking into account the diversity of experience, knowledge and opinions, we all serve the same master, the people of Great Aycliffe we are trustees. The one who plants trees knowing that he will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life. That is forward planning. Not for self, but for others.

This Council has always and will always, continue to invest and plan well ahead, this Council is a beacon of stability and progress. We may as councillors, disagree on some issues, and it would be dull and boring if we didn’t.

Finally, Mr Chairman, we record our thanks to our thoroughly professional, highly experienced,  and, very able team of Officers, and all the hardworking staff under them, from Mr Bailey, our Town Clerk, the best Town Clerk I have ever come across in my 46 years in politics, and by God I have known many, throughout the North East, our soft spoken genius of a Finance Officer, Dan Austin, (soon to be Town Clerk), who makes the Councils finances understandable and easy to follow in plain English, to Chrissy, Steve, Judith, Christine, Amanda, Kirsten, and all, always looking at making savings and efficiencies. They don’t just do a job, they take pride in it, put their heart and soul into it, and provide us as Councillors and the Public with an excellent public Service.

Very often it’s not the people who hit the headlines, but those who make the headlines possible, who deserve the praise. People who shine from within, don’t need the spotlight, that infinite diversity, in infinite combination, lays the foundation for  progress from generation to generation,   to maintain, and steadily improve the quality of life for all in Great Aycliffe. I so move.