Town slashes 2002 budget

UCKFIELD Town Council this week slashed 26,000 off its proposed budget for 2002/2003.

Cash set aside for administration and computer equipment was cut, while 20,000 earmarked for a new best value officer was removed completely.

However, despite the cuts, the council s proposed share of the council tax would still be an increase of 15.5 per cent on last year.

Members of the policy and resources committee met on Monday to pore over the figures. Their recommendations will go before full council next week, where a final decision on the precept will be made.

Despite voicing some reservations, councillors decided to withdraw cash set aside for employment of a best value officer, and wait for government funding instead.

Town clerk Ashley Serpis confirmed that the council qualified for a 30,000 grant to fund the appointment of a best value officer required by authorities the size of Uckfield to carry out appraisals of the council s efficiency. He added that the funding should be made available within 18 months.

Cllr Martha Whittle warned that 'no best value officer meant no best value , while chairman Cllr Michael Hakiel said the council could put off the appointment 'for anything up to 12 months but that there was a danger the delay could 'cause unsolvable problems in the office.

Members also voted to chop the council s office budget which includes computer and other 'operational funds from 20,000 to 15,000. Cllr Hilary Cary said: 'I can t think how we can afford 20,000 on computers. I think that should be halved.

Councillors were told the money was to have been spent on updating the server.

Administration costs were cut from 15,000 to 14,000 after members considered savings could be made on internet charges. The town clerk suggested that internet access was not made available to everybody in the council office, while Cllr Hakiel said: 'We should get a package that will cut our costs and we should look into that as soon as possible.

After discussions, councillors decided not to cut the budgets for advertising and town security. Members also accepted the proposed budgets from the environment, facilities and project boards committees.

After the reductions, the council s precept stood at 506,049. Before the 26,000 budget cut, Uckfield s share of the council tax bill stood to rise 21 per cent on 2001/2002 figures. The reviewed figure works out at 96.05 per household on a Band D property.