New Chair calls for review

Tenbury Town Council have appointed the Reverend Cllr, Ian Williams, to chair the Finance and Staffing Group committee.

Following his appointment he has called for a complete root and branch revue of all the Town Council's income and expenditure. and for proper Business Plans to be drawn up for the Councils major assets such as the Pump Rooms and the Regal.

Under the current accounting system, it is virtually impossible to identify which of the Council's services make money and which loose money. It is also unclear what services are supplied at commercial rates and which are heavily subsidised. Whilst it is the job of a Council to raise a precept and provide services, there needs to be a balance, and at the moment this cannot be proved one way or another.

The Council needs to make some decisions on a Commercial basis. At tonight's meeting they discussed placing an advert for the Pump Rooms in a Civil Ceremony directory, but at no time did anyone question just how many additional weddings would have to be booked just to pay for the advert.

My suspicion is far too many!

(Update 6/7/09 : The Council voted against spending £325 on a wedding advert. The cost of hiring the Pump Rooms for a Civil Ceremony is approx. £20)