Anew system of subsidy and fundingfor parish and town councils is beingproposed by West Lindsey.

The idea is to be fairer to everyoneinvolved and ensure that the costs of run-ning local services fall on those who bene-fit from them.

Parishes have complained to the districtcouncil over a number of years that theysuffer from ‘double taxation’ – they arguedthat they had to pay for their own playareas and facilities and then contributeagain for the same things in Gainsboroughas these charges were reflected in the dis-trict rate levy.

No town councilThis was because historically

Gainsborough did not have a town councilso there was no alternative but for the dis-trict council to levy the charge.

But now there is a Gainsborough TownCouncil which has already taken over thecemetery and the town park and is soon to

take responsibility for the town’s two majorsportsfields.

Chief Executive Duncan Sharkey said:“To neutralise the effect of the so-calleddouble taxation, parishes have enjoyed a£2 subsidy for every elector. This is now nolonger needed because Gainsboroughpeople are now paying for Gainsboroughfacilities. We are proposing to reduce thesubsidy to £1 per elector and allow parish-es to precept for specific activities whenthis is appropriate. This makes parishesmuch more accountable to their communi-ties and ensures that local people are onlypaying for things in their area.”

West Lindsey District Council

THE NEWSLETTER FOR PARISH AND TOWN COUNCILSTHROUGHOUT WEST LINDSEY

Parish Matters

Redressing the balance

Making a Difference � Continued overleaf

SEPTEMBER 2009

Get Parish Matterssent direct to you

Parish Matters is also producedelectronically, so if you are a townor parish councillor or a clerk, wecan email it direct to your homeor work!

All you have to do is send usdetails of your name and theposition you hold and we will dothe rest.

Please send the information toshelley.knowles@west-lindsey.gov.uk

‘Changes are all about fairnessas they ensure that people payfor the facilities in their town orvillage and not for facilities thatothers enjoy many miles away.’

West Lindsey District Council isjoining forces with the Big TidyUp to tackle litter problemsaround the area.

So if you have got a grot spotyou want to get rid of, now is thetime to do it!

The Big Tidy Up will provide tabards and help with the publici-ty, the district council will provide gloves, litter picking sticks andtake away all the rubbish, and the parish or town council will beasked to make sure there are plenty of hands on deck to get thejob done.

To find out more contact Ady Selby on (01427) 675154

� From front pageCemeteries are another area for change. Under the sub-

sidy arrangements, parishes have been able to claim for thenet cost of the cemetery they run on behalf of local residentsfrom the district council.

Once again, this was in an effort to be fair, because theGainsborough cemetery was paid for from the district rate.This was also the case in Springthorpe, Market Rasen,Owmby by Spital and Torksey.

But 18 months ago, the town council took over responsi-bility for the Gainsborough cemetery and Torksey ParishCouncil has agreed to take responsibility for its cemetery.

Unfortunately, the other parishes involved have not takenover and now the district council is asking its Members toagree Special Expense Accounts for these areas so that thecosts can fall properly on the residents who benefit from theservice.

Originally it had been planned to make the cemeterychanges last year, but after consultation it was agreed to putthe move back 12 months to allow parishes time to adjusttheir precepts.

Mr Sharkey said: “This is all about fairness as it ensuresthat people pay for the facilities in their town or village andnot for facilities that others enjoy many miles away.

“There are also savings overall which will once again helpus to keep our council tax increase for everyone down to anabsolute minimum – last year it was 1.61% which was wellbelow the rate of inflation.”

Cemeterieswill alsocome underlocal control

The effect of thechanges can lookdramatic inpercentageterms, but whenit comes to hardcash the impactis minimal.

For example, inMorton the parishcharge would leapup a massive 141% butthis equates to £14.82 a yearor 28.5 pence a week – lessthan a packet of crisps oronly half the price of a softdrink.

Similarly in Legsby thecharge would rise by

133%. But in cashterms this is just£4.84 a year orjust over ninepence a week.

In many casesthe impact is even

smaller.Individual

calculations have beenmade and sent to all parishes.

If you want to find out moreplease contact Russell Stoneon (01427) 676542 or MandyClarkson on (01427) 676543.

What difference will it make?

In cashterms it’s

not as badas you

might think

Calling all clerksand chairmen

Does understandingthe many roles andresponsibilities of adistrict council leaveyou feeling like this?

Don’t worry,help is at hand!

We’ve organised a training session onOctober 20 when you can find out exactly

what we do and why we do it.More details and an invitation are on their

way to you, but please save the date in yourdiary now.

It’s too good to miss!

Could yourpatch do witha tidy up?