MAJOR TOWN ISSUES
Assembly Rooms megaloan fiasco
(February 06, 2010)A RESPECTED commentator on Warminster civic affairs has declared that a 'white elephant' should not become the
'cash cow' in the middle of the worst economic crisis for decades with
a council using the general election as pressure to take a decision.
"I am appalled that our Tory parish level council is prepared to
commit this town to 25 years of half yearly payments of £35,000 to
rescue a previous mistake of theirs that is widely regarded as a 'white
elephant'," says former Warminster Deputy Mayor Paul Macdonald.
"My reading of this particular cock-up is that the town council
took on the running of the Assembly Hall to bail out their Conservative
colleagues at the former West Wiltshire District Council.
"I do not know what agreement was reached when our local unpaid
councillors took over responsibility but as the WWDC is now part of the
new Wiltshire Council surely the town should ask them to take it back."
On Monday the Mayor of Warminster Cllr. Tony Nicklin (Con) will
preside over a full council meeting that will commit the townsfolk to
spend almost £1 million to set up shop in the building just across the
car park from Morrison's supermarket.
In the report to councillors the agenda says' 'It is imperative
that approval is sought....before a general election is
announced....this could cause delays.'
"This is absolutely appalling in my view," adds Paul. "They are
throwing an obscene amount of money at this which will almost certainly
become a 'cash cow' to be milked.
"For that sort of borrowing they could substantially enhance the
life of our young people every six months instead of pestering the
police to sort out the Three Horseshoes Mall problem.
"They could also commit themselves to being part of the town hall rescue which is now the focus of a development trust.
"They could spend a lot less money on Dewey House to give themselves the office space they are arguing justifies this move."
Warminster Town Council meet at Dewey House in North Row on Monday starting at 7pm.
Former Warminster county councillor Steve Dancey adds: ''Perhaps the agenda item should have been titled 'how to waste million pounds' - its a double scandal when you consider how much could be done with the Town Hall with this money.
''Perhaps these people should ask the electorate about this and hold a parish poll before they go ahead.
''If they lose the vote then they should all resign and let some people who really understand this town run things.
''I will be writing to the Public Works Loan Board and the minister for the south west, Jim Knight MP, to let them know that there could be a parish poll called for and ask them to block any hasty decisions.''
WHAT IS A PARISH POLL?
Ten electors or one third of electors present at the meeting and voting, whichever is less, may demand a poll on a question or the appointment to an office. If a poll is demanded on a question, the wording of the question can be voted upon at the meeting.
The Returning Officer of the District Council is then obliged to organise the poll. A notice will be put up in the parish area not less than five days before the poll. No poll cards are issued and the polling stations are open only from 4.00 pm to 9.00 pm.
There is no provision in the regulations for the issue of postal votes or proxy votes. All electors wishing to vote must attend their usual polling station in person.
The question on the ballot paper should be unambiguous and able to be answered with a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’.
Former Warminster county councillor Steve Dancey adds: ''Perhaps the agenda item should have been titled 'how to waste million pounds' - its a double scandal when you consider how much could be done with the Town Hall with this money.
''Perhaps these people should ask the electorate about this and hold a parish poll before they go ahead.
''If they lose the vote then they should all resign and let some people who really understand this town run things.
''I will be writing to the Public Works Loan Board and the minister for the south west, Jim Knight MP, to let them know that there could be a parish poll called for and ask them to block any hasty decisions.''
WHAT IS A PARISH POLL?
Parish polls, one of the truly democratic
mechanisms left to the people, have been pretty rare but former Kennet
district councillor Alan Wood organised one in Fittleton two years ago.
Ten electors or one third of electors present at the meeting and voting, whichever is less, may demand a poll on a question or the appointment to an office. If a poll is demanded on a question, the wording of the question can be voted upon at the meeting.
The Returning Officer of the District Council is then obliged to organise the poll. A notice will be put up in the parish area not less than five days before the poll. No poll cards are issued and the polling stations are open only from 4.00 pm to 9.00 pm.
There is no provision in the regulations for the issue of postal votes or proxy votes. All electors wishing to vote must attend their usual polling station in person.
The question on the ballot paper should be unambiguous and able to be answered with a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’.
DO YOU THINK THERE SHOULD BE A PARISH POLL BEFORE THE TOWN COUNCIL GOES AHEAD WITH THIS PLAN?
email us [email protected]