Anger over Brockenhurst Parish Council’s 66% rise in band D precept

A NEW Forest parish council whose council tax precept soared by 66% has been accused of “bad financial management” at a public meeting.

Brockenhurst Parish Council’s hike is the biggest in the district, beating Bransgore’s 63%. Four parish councils kept their precepts the same as last year, and the average rise across the district was 11%.

Angry resident Peter Warner told an annual meeting of the council that people would “struggle” to pay the increase, adding: “In a time of austerity and high cost for individuals it’s unacceptable.”

He was responding to comments by Brockenhurst Parish Council chair Cllr Peter Wales who pointed out its precept had not risen for seven years.

Mr Warner said he felt that was wrong: “You could argue that was bad management. Not increasing it and then putting it up all in one go. It’s a staggering amount of money.”

He criticised the council for proposing to spend £23,000 on a village sign and £9,000 on 80 allotments which return only £1,100 income.

Mr Warner said: “It would make more sense to give them all a credit note for the village veg shop.”

He also pointed out that costs maintaining the village cemeteries had gone up three-fold.

Hampshire county councillor Keith Mans came to the defence of the parish council, pointing out that because its spending had been capped by government some services it previously paid for were now having to be borne by the parish council.

He said the person who cut the hedges and verges in the village now had to be paid by the parish council, where previously the county council did.

Cllr Mans said: “They have to cover the cost because we are not able to do so. The waste bins are the same, we previously paid for them, now the parish council is responsible for them.”

Announcing the increase, Cllr Wales said it represented an increase of only £28.30 a year which was “less than 60p a week”.

Mr Warner said: “Yes, but don’t just take it for granted that people can afford it.”