Council want rid of special expenses

Published on 25th October 2007 in News

Members of Snaith and Cowick Town Council have pledged to support Driffield Town Council in its quest to see 'unfair' special expenses dispensed with on East Riding council tax bills - in the same week that it was announced that a meeting could be held to discuss the town's own concerns about special expenses.

All parish and town councils within the East Riding that are subject to special expenses have been contacted by Driffield Town Council, in an attempt to see the abolition of these charges.

In a letter to Snaith and Cowick Town Council, Claire Binnington, town clerk of Driffield Town Council, said: "The Town Council believes that these special expenses, charged to only 14 parishes within the county, are unfair and should be dispensed with.

"The Town Council has been in a long-running debate with East Riding of Yorkshire Council as to the legitimacy of these additional charges levied on those living within these parishes.

"The Town Council feels that, in our case at least, the areas outlined as being subject to special expenses are enjoyed by not just the residents of Driffield and Little Driffield, but also by those who live in surrounding villages and use and enjoy the facilities in the town, particularly the local park and the grounds of the Customer Services Centre."

At the beginning of the current financial year, £10,000 in special expenses were added to tax charges for the Snaith and Cowick area for 2007/8 for the upkeep of Snaith Sports Hall, which is run by the Snaith and District Community Sports Association.

Over the previous two financial years, Snaith and Cowick ratepayers have paid no special expenses for any community facilities, with such expenses only made payable to the 'closed churchyards' and 'parks and open spaces' categories on East Riding of Yorkshire Council's (ERYC) tax bills.

Speaking at Monday evening's Snaith and Cowick Town Council meeting, Cllr Greta Laughton said: "I think we should support Driffield Town Council."

Cllr Tom Johnson added: "I am quite happy to support them."

Town councillors also heard from East Riding councillor Caroline Fox that a meeting was held last week between the Snaith ward councillors, Stephen Parnaby, leader of ERYC, and Andrew Percy, Goole's prospective Conservative MP. High on the agenda was the subject of special expenses.

This week Mr Percy said it is was hoped that a meeting between the town council, Snaith and District Community Sports Association and ERYC would be arranged to discuss future funding of the sports hall.

He said: "People are keen to lose the special expenses charge because it is quite expensive, but the last thing that Cllr Parnaby wants to do is leave the sports hall without enough money to keep it running.

"It is hoped that a meeting can be arranged in which the Town Council and Sports Hall are involved together and equally."