Town Council to set budget as investigation continues

Welshpool Town Councillors will meet to set their annual budget and council tax tomorrow ( Monday) night knowing that they may have to repay thousands of pounds to the Burgess Land Trust.

Figures released this weekend by Town Clerk Anne Wilson show that the council drew down grants of £84,428 from the Burgess Land Trust during the 2019/20 period. Money has also been drawn down in previous years.

The council has already confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine how much of that grant money was legitimately used to help fund a variety of council activities and whether any of the money will need to be repaid.

Reports going to Monday night’s budget meeting show that no money has been drawn down from the Trust during the current financial year which ends on March 31 and none is included in the 2021/22 budget proposals.

The reports show that in 2019/20 the town council precept was £475,000 – an increase of 13.25% which represented an 11.5% increase to £176 for Band D properties.

The 2020/21 precept was £587,665 and the Band D rate rose to £218.67 – an increase of 19.5%.

That shows that in the last two years Band D property residents in Welshpool have seen their Town Council precept rise by 31%. This figure does not include the Powys County Council precept which is due to be set soon.

Councillors will be asked to decide which events they wish to support financially in 2021/22 as well as contributions towards improved Christmas lights, proposals for a new 3G pitch and the replacement of the skatepark which is currently closed.

The cash-strapped council has been forced to close the Anne Holloway Day Centre and hand street scene activities back to Powys County Council leading to several redundancies during the current financial year.

Members of the public can gain access to the meeting which will be held using Zoom virtual technology by contacting the Town Council on 01938 553142.