Ross-on-Wye residents will paying almost 12% extra in tax to the town council in the next financial year.

Discussions at the Town Council meeting on Monday, February 11th got heated following Councillor Julian Utting’s proposal to amend the budget. He put forward a motion to reduce the Town Council’s 2019/20120 expenditure, at least by £35,000.

He said: “We should defer the work in Homs Road Car Park by one year, and that will cut at least £20,000. We are spending a further £15,000 on the amenities wish list. We should not be accepting the budget in its current form.

“The Town Council should reprioritise its financial projects, like the Market House project, to stay within budget. The government asked us not to exceed the budget, but we have ignored that advice.”

Councillor Gren, who voted against Councillor Utting’s proposed amendment, said: “We have grown in size, in our assets and staff, and the budget has to grow with it. Putting a cap on that now, I think, is shutting the door after the horse has bolted. Rather than administer a cap, the Council should now seek to work as efficiently as possible.”

Councillor Lister said: “It’s frustrating that this question is being asked at such a late stage, when we spoke for hours and hours about which projects should be funded and not. The work in Homs Road Car Park, we know, should go ahead. Beginning it now will save time and money."

He continued to explain that delaying the work on the Market House, which will cost at least £112,000, would only increase the costs as the Market House continues to deteriorate.

Councillor Mayo described the proposed amendment as ‘two faced’ in its pledge to recognise the Town Council’s responsibility to maintain its assets and amenities, while also cutting the funding for them. He said: “The financial difference between our budget, and the budget that we are aiming for, is only 12 pence per person per week. I cannot support this motion.” The figures that Councillor Mayo’s suggestions are based on are for a Band D property’s council tax.

Councillor Bartrum, who supported the amendment and suggested cutting funding to amenities referred to figures that Councillor Bramer offered in 2014 regarding the financial burden, and said they have increased by 85% over two years, and 60% over the last four years. He suggested that while it would be great to help fund St Mary’s Church lights, they do have their own funds and could cope with delayed help. He said: “However, I do not want my involvement with St Mary’s to affect my duties as a Councillor; I understand if knowledge of their own funds cannot be taken into account.”

Councillor Mayo said: “When the Town Council considered providing for St Mary’s, we could only work with the information we were presented with at that time.”

Councillor Utting concluded by saying: “I reject the slur that this is about electioneering, I started this in July. I am asking for realism, and believe we should be fiscally responsible. We are robbing residents of hard earned cash, if they are not receiving 12 pence per week more, we should not be increasing the budget to take it from them.”

Councillor Utting’s amendment was rejected by eight votes to five. Votes to cap the budget came from Julian Utting, Caroline Utting, Jane Roberts, Chris Bartrum, Anne Taylor and Paul Symonds.See this week’s paper for more stories like this, available in shops and as a Digital Edition now.