Hemsworth action group is blamed for precept hike
A COMMUNITY action group has contributed to a hike in Hemsworth taxpayers' rates, according to a town councillor.
Coun Tony Upson said Hemsworth Town Council's precept would probably have been frozen or cut if it had not been for Hemsworth Community Action Group's 'vain attempt' to get a judicial review into the sale of the town's sports complex.
Councillors confirmed the precept increase of 3.9 per cent – from 464,000 to 482,000 – at a special town council meeting on Tuesday. Because of increased housing, households will see an increase of 2.9 per cent.
Last year the action group lost a bid to have a judicial review into the sale of Hemsworth Sports Complex. Money from the sale will pay for a new community hall and football pitches. The group is still to repay 5,865 owed to the town council in legal costs.
At a finance committee meeting on Tuesday, February 2, Coun Upson said: "If the money owed by Hemsworth Action Group had been paid, and if we hadn't suffered a significant delay due to a vain attempt to get a judicial review, we would probably have the sports facilities up and running and bringing in revenue.
"If that had been the case this budget would probably have either been neutral or of negative value."
But after the meeting, district councillor Ian Womersley, who led the group at the time, disputed the figure owed and said the increase in precept was due to the facilities being built.
He said: "I think this is out of order because if the group's action had delayed the community centre being built, then why have contracts not been exchanged yet? They would be getting interest and revenue if the facilities had been signed over.
"What I said last year is right about the precept going up to pay for these two facilities. My major concern is that if these projects fail, and in my opinion they will, we will end up in a lot of debt.
"We are in dispute with the council about that sum of money. We have asked them to justify the bill and want a breakdown of how it was spent. If it is proved that is what we owe then we will pay it. Everything is being done through solicitors."
Chairman of the council Graham West said the council was taking legal action to recover the money owed, adding that the debt had caused the council's balances to be reduced.
He said: “As for the delay in the signing of contracts costing the township money in lost interest, has Coun Womersley forgotten about the months of delays incurred through the judicial review and subsequent appeal that was then withdrawn?”
l The precept – which was frozen in 2009-10 – will pay for services provided by the town council, including brass band concerts, a bonfire event, a garden scheme and the Hemsworth Christmas lights and switch-on event.
The council has also taken over the running of the Seaside in the Park event and the Christmas light switch-on in Kinsley and Fitzwilliam, both of which were previously funded by the Kinsley and Fitzwilliam Neighbourhood Management Team.
Other plans for the coming year include providing new equipment and sand at Hemsworth Water Park, possibly opening a cafe and children’s play area at The Windsurfer pub – which was closed last year – and carrying out improvements to the allotments, including portable toilets at all sites.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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