Radstock residents will be pleased to hear that thanks to increased housebuilding, the Town Council has been able to set its precept for 2017/18 with no increase to individual householders.
With the building of new homes, the Town Council will be nearly £11,000 better off, however, it will need to budget for levels of reduced funding from B&NES, as the local authority in turn receives less and less from the Government.
The Town Clerk also reminded Councillors that there could be another £10,000 to come, with the possibility that money spent on the Tom Huyton playpark will be reimbursed once leasing arrangements have been ironed out with B&NES.
Unallocated funds stand at just short of £6,000 for the year.
Of the amendments made to the Town Council’s budget are extra costs anticipated for potential new Council offices, as part of the town’s regeneration scheme, more put aside to increase the number of civic events in the town, and an increased
budget for grounds maintenance to provide funding for allotment works planned in 2017/18. There are also plans for a community orchard.
A discussion followed of the £10,000 Portas funding that was awarded to Radstock in 2012, but is still yet to be spent. The money was the result of a bid for money available to help rejuvenate local High Streets as part of the Government’s High Street review by Mary Portas, ‘Queen of Shops’.
Town Councillors agreed that contact should be made with Radstock’s Town Team to try and meet the criteria for which the money can be allocated. Cllr Rupert Bevan said that although the money “wouldn’t go very far,” it could be used to make the town look more attractive. Cllr Chris Dando said that it could be “a catalyst” to help people come together and address issues, but would not ultimately fix them – as this would cost serious money that the Town Council just does not have.
Councillors voted to accept the resignation of Cllr Jordan Ness, rather than see him automatically disqualified for missing six meetings without apology. This means there is now a casual vacancy on the Town Council.