Poor Turnout Shames Tenbury

Although a hot topic of conversation at every bar and dinner table, when the opportunity arose to address the question of 'How Malvern Hill District Council spends our Council Tax', the turnout was derisory.

Ralph Madden, Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources and Peter Gillett, Head of Finance & Resources, were in Tenbury tonight for a Public Consultation Meeting.

The meeting was attended by a total of 5 people, (including me).

One Town Councillor, in a private capacity.
One member of the press.
One Parish Councillor from a neighbouring parish.
One member of the public from a neighbouring parish.
One member of the public from Tenbury. (me)

Despite the low turn-out the meeting was very productive and these two very well informed gentlemen from MHDC took copious notes and promised to liaise at the highest levels to pass on the information gathered.

There was lots of interesting facts in their presentation, but the three things that I found the most surprising where:-

• the government inspired bus passes cost MHDC £400,000 per year which is about 11.4% of the total amount raised by the Council Tax.
• waste collection and bus passes alone cost MHDC more than the total amount of money raised by the Council Tax
• of the average band D £1,337 Council Tax bill, only 9%, £120 actually goes to MHDC.