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Council Balances its Pandemic Books
(August 16, 2020)The pandemic saw so many local households carefully nursing their pursestrings with new words like furlough and lockdown disrupting their spending and their earnings.
A special finance meeting, held by Warminster Town Council, gave them a ‘quid pro quo' report that took a similar look at the impact on their spending of the money they collect through the council tax bill and the commercial earnings from their Civic Centre.
“The purpose of the meeting was to look at the impact of the Covid,” said Cllr. Pip Ridout.
“I am pleased to say it is fifty-fifty. What we are losing in income we are gaining on delayed contracts and several other minor things."
The report showed an estimated annual loss of £68,000 but with the use of £50,000 that possibly may not be spent on taking on more responsibility for services provided by Wiltshire Council before next April they have balanced the numbers.
“The report is very clear,” claimed Cllr. Ridout.
“It shows clearly the losses of income and extra expense we have incurred but it also shows we have income.
“The costs of all the things that Wiltshire Council is transferring over they do not have any time or staff to do it.
"It is quid pro quo and I hope everyone is happy with that.”
The summary shows that the expected major losses are £30,000 at Civic Centre, personal protection equipment and signs spending will be £10,000, and losses in bar income £9,000. A stocktake is planned for this month.
Savings in town park water usage will offset that by £7,000 and grants for the Warminster Wobble cycling and Inspire musical events not taken up saved £6,500.
The report is recommending that the Christmas market is unrealistic and reveals that Bank of England reduction in interest rates will add a loss of £1600 from investments.
The council have also spent £8,000 one year early on laptops and help with their use for councillors so they could hold meetings without meeting face to face.
The report was noted with silence from any other councillor present.