Last week’s Policy and Resources Committee of Great Aycliffe Town Council dealt with two issues of significance. The first concerned the (postponed) question of a donation to the Citizens’ Advice Bureau (CAB). Speaking for the Labour Group, Cllr Clare outlined the difficulty of making a decision in this case. The financial needs of the CAB organisation are so vast that any donation by GATC would make little or no difference.
No money had been allocated for a grant in the Council’s budget, and the donations budget stood at only £2800. The Council most certainly would not commit itself to an annual grant, not least because elections in 2013 would see a completely new Council.
Having said that, however, CAB provides an invaluable service – one which was likely to become more vital in the future as the recession and the cuts began to bite – and figures supplied by CAB showed that most people attending Newton Aycliffe CAB were from Great Aycliffe. Consequently, the Labour Group was recommending that GATC make a donation of £6933, which would fund 6 generalist case work appointments per session, advice session supervision, reception and clerical cover and a contribution towards volunteer training. The grant was being given on the understanding that it had to be ring-fenced for Newton Aycliffe, and that it constituted a once-only donation to help CAB get over the financial shock of the cuts whilst they readjusted their organisation to the new financial situation. The money would have to be taken from contingencies. This proposal was agreed by the Council.
The second issue concerned the Medium Term Financial Plan. The MTFP does not set the Council’s budget, but looks forward to the financial issues the Council is likely to face.
The Council has just received a glowing report from the Auditor, and is in a sound financial condition. Speaking for the Labour Group, however, Cllr Clare stated that GATC faces significant concerns for the future. There is continued uncertainty about the Double Taxation grant from Durham County Council. Also, Government changes to the Council Tax Benefit system would reduce the tax base, and therefore the council’s income – what made this particularly alarming is that GATC had no way as yet of knowing how great the reduction might be, from tens of thousands to more than a hundred thousand pounds a year. Added to that, there were vague threats from Westminster about a cap, even cuts, on Town and Parish Council precepts. What was worrying was not the current financial state of the Council, but the complete lack of figures about the extent of the cuts the Council would face. Cllr Clare thanked the Finance Manager for a clear and informative Plan, but the MTFP would need to be revised at least once before the Budget as – hopefully – these issues were clarified.
Speaking from the Chair, Cllr Fleming emphasised that the Council was not in any trouble financially at the moment, but that it needed to brace itself for possible financial shocks in the future. The Council unanimously agreed the MTFP on a named vote.
Finally, Councillors agreed a recommendation for the purchase of replacement vehicles. Within the budget allocated to replace the Ford Transit Crew Cab (which is now 11 years old and has literally stopped), the Works Manager has managed to arrange a deal to buy two new Mitsubishi L200 vehicles … which will allow us also to replace the Parks Ranger’s Vauxhall Corsa (which is 15 years old). Councillors agreed that these new vehicles will be a wise purchase as we move into an uncertain financial future.
J. D. Clare
