Some good news for a change. The Town Council agreed last week that the precept( tax), which funds its activities, will not be increased in the next financial year starting in April 2010. It was felt that it would be unfair to raise the precept at a time of financial hardship for many ratepayers. To be honest it is a matter of every little helps, because the precept is of small consequence to most people. The precept, which is added to the County Council rates demand, amounts to just over £56 per average household—not much more than £1 a week—and small fry when compared with the total rates bill.
Nevertheless it demonstrates that the Town Council is playing its part in trying to help people during a very difficult period when setting its annual budget. In spite of low inflation expenditure costs for the Council are still rising, so we have decided to use a modest amount of our reserves to balance the books. Low interest rates means that the reserves are yielding a lot less income than in recent years, so it makes good economic sense to use a small proportion to finance other requirements that may help sustain the recovery in the town's fortunes..
In fact the council budget for next year includes a contingency fund to allow the implementation of short-term measures that may be recommended in the forthcoming Ross Town plan report. The analysis of the questionnaires, circulated by the plan steering group, to identity what residents want for the future benefit of the town is taking longer than expected because of the much larger than expected total return.
However it is already evident that a majority of respondents favour some projects which could be implemented quite quickly. For example there is a significant majority favouring the introduction of a picnic site, possibly as part of a tourist trail, on the riverside. That is one of the short-term measures that would not cost a great deal to fund while enhancing the attraction of the town for residents and visitors.
Meanwhile the bad news this week is the closure of the Ross Town football club. It is a sad reflection of the times that a town the size of Ross cannot afford its own football team.
Before I was elected as a town councillor I spent a short period as treasurer of Ross Town to help out with a shortage of club officials. I know, therefore, from personal experience the constant struggle the club had to survive financial problems. Geoff Jones, and other members, did a wonderful job in keeping the club alive for as long as they did, but they have had to admit defeat in the end.
The Ross Sports and Leisure Federation, of which I am chairman, has spent a lot of time and energy over the past two years in trying to improve the state of the Wilton Sports Centre and put it onto a sound financial basis for the benefit of the ground users, including the Ross Town football club.
We are about to approve an excellent feasibility study, commissioned by the Federation, putting forward a comprehensive plan to finance the required improvements at the Wilton ground, primarily by raising grants from a variety of organisations.
Ironically junior football clubs in Ross are expanding, with the help of active parent volunteers, and they are in need of extra suitable pitches. The Federation has been encouraging the clubs to bury past differences and get together to form a consortium which could qualify to benefit from grants normally only available to junior sides.
Hopefully they can take Ross Town's place at the Wilton Sports Centre and help obtain the financial support needed.. As the juniors get older those who wish to continue playing may well provide Ross in a few years from now with a senior side with a more solid base.