Joan (Cowling)
Cowling
Monday, March 24, 2008 15:51 |
Council Tax - Sutton precept
On studying Council Tax precepts 2008/9 for Craven's 41 villages - note that Sutton asks for approx. £76,000, Cowling approx. £33,000, and Glusburn approx. £61,000. No mention of Cross Hills on list, so does Cross Hills belong to Glusburn, or Sutton, or even both? |
Alan
Monday, March 24, 2008 17:06 |
Joan,
It is highly likely that Crosshills belongs to neither and that the residents of Crosshills had sufficient common sense when Parish Councils were re introduced, to make sure that they did not get one. They are another means of increasing taxes via the back door. When they were in existence originally before the reorganistion on April 1st 1974. ( What an appropriate date. ) they served a useful purpose. Now they can set their own precept with no limit and have very few powers. They are very often composed of unelected members because no one wishes to stand for election. How many vacancies exist on the Cowling Parish Council for elected members? Keighley changed it's title from Parish to Town Council and is now attempting to return to the standing it had pre 74. Bradford Council still has full charge of the rates collected. Keighley residents then pay more on top to finance the town Mayor and council. It is very often little more than an expensive talking shop. |
Joan
Cowling
Tuesday, March 25, 2008 15:44 |
Thanks for reply, v. interesting. Cowling from beginning of its Parish Council in 1894 has 9 Cllrs. Always understood that the precept is the share from Craven & North Yorks. central funds allocated to that particular council for work in village, already determined by village council, and kept as low as poss. so that central funds are also kept lower?? Or is it just "if you don't ask you don't get!"
Or is precept worked out on how many residents? Is the no. of Cllrs. also determined from how many residents in village? Yes, I should know all this by now?
But how many do? If more than 9 are interested we are having an election early May? The first Cowling Parish Council election in 24 years! |
paulw
webmaster
Tuesday, March 25, 2008 17:11 |
Sutton-in-Craven Parish is made up of two wards - Sutton Ward and Sutton Mill Ward. Councillors are elected in each ward and they sit together as Sutton-in-Craven Parish Council. I think there are six in each ward.
The Craven D C web site states that Glusburn is also a multiple ward parish but doesn't give a breakdown. They also have a map of boundaries and the Glusburn area looks to include Cross Hills.
I believe the precept is added to the North Yorks C C and Craven D C rates and doesn't come out of central funds. The total precept is divided by the number of eligible residents/households and the amount is added to the bill. Paul |
Alan
Tuesday, March 25, 2008 17:34 |
Joan,
Many people, like yourself, are not aware that Parish Councils that are in existence now are NOT the same as the parish councils pre 1974. They were allowed to reform some 15 - 20 years ago. Not all villages took up the offer made by the Government and many are at this time trying to form their Parish Councils. Cowling web site, I think it is the notice board, runs aa article asking for nominations. In it there is mention that several of the "Councillors " are not even elected but co opted on to the Council. As I said earlier, many Parish Councils are a back door means of raising taxes and are talking shops. When I lived in Heaton, Bradford, the Councillors there tried to form a Parish Council but we managed to put a stop to it. Why pay twice for something. The Members of the Bradford Council are paid to represent their Constituents. We have also managed to prevent Bingley from going down the road. I am not surprised that precept figures are not published separately from the Craven District rates. It is all a big con. Go along and ask how they arrive at the precept figure. You may get a surprise. |
paulw
webmaster
Tuesday, March 25, 2008 19:02 |
Hi Alan. The individual precepts for all parishes were listed in the literature included with the council tax bill. I scanned through it but have since recycled it! As far as I'm aware, Sutton parish councillors don't get paid. Allowance schemes were introduced in 2004 to encourage more people to stand, but many parish councils (including Sutton, I believe) still maintain a strictly unpaid status.
Paul |
Joan
Cowling
Tuesday, March 25, 2008 22:19 |
Thanks - no Cowling Cllrs. do not get paid either, only the Clerk. Since 1984 there has never been enough people interested (over 9) in taking on the job, so therefore no need for election. If Sutton does not include Cross Hills residents, then wonder why Sutton requires a precept of £76,000? Maybe to pay for park and park keeper? Still puzzled about Cross Hills, as both Farnhill and Kildwick are listed as each having a precept. (Think I'd better get back to Cowling now). |
Alan
Wednesday, March 26, 2008 14:08 |
Paul,
Sorry if I gave the impression that Parish Council members get paid, that I know is not so. Those that I refer to receiving payment are members of the District Councils. I suppose that I had better leave this alone as I do not reside within the area affected. My feelings do not change when I say that it is a completely unecessary and unwarranted layer of Government and it has been foisted on a population who thought that they were benefitting or were too apathetic to bother. |
Joan
Cowling
Wednesday, March 26, 2008 21:58 |
Will take this query to our Annual Parish Meeting - maybe Cowling should be asking for more funds, especially as we now have a lot more residents and new housing? Thanks for the interest. |
Alan
Thursday, March 27, 2008 18:20 |
Joan,
The precept is set by the Parish Council, so therefore your Cowling Parish Councillors will know how much they have asked the Parishioners to fork out. Happy hunting. |
Brian
Friday, March 28, 2008 20:57 |
The precept is worked out by the parish council and added to the general tax collected by Craven District and apportioned to house holds as is the council tax by the different tax bands eg A B C D etc. The Sutton precept used to be worked out by what had been spent the year before, deduct once only expences then add on a bit for inflation then look at what extra expenditure would be needed for the forthcoming year for example a new lawn mower for the park or the building of a bus shelter or the instalation of extra street lighting etc.
The question of Cross Hills and Glusburn parish councils is answered by the fact that they are as one ie there is one parish council that represents both villages and jointly have the responsibility for the upkeep of Glusburn Park amongst other things. |
Joan
Cowling
Sunday, March 30, 2008 19:27 |
Thanks, Cowling has a precept of £33,000, so Glusburn & Cross Hills £62,500, and Sutton £76,000?? Is this to help with park upkeep I wonder? (From Council Tax leaflet 2008/9). |
