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Seaford: Councillor resigns over higher tax row
A TOWN councillor has quit after his colleagues voted for an increase in council tax.
Conservative Councillor Andrew Hamilton made the controversial decision to step down because he could not support the move to raise the amount of the town council portion of residents’ council tax by nearly 10 per cent.
The Lindfield Avenue resident, who was voted in at last year’s elections, said he was told he would be suspended from the Conservative group if he did not back the rise.
He decided not to go to the council meeting which discussed the issue last month and has since handed in his resignation.
He said, “My decision has not been an easy one but this is due to the recent decision to increase the local precept/council tax for the people of Seaford. I, like other Conservatives, campaigned in last year’s May local elections promising that the precept would not rise this year.”
In January the town council met to discuss the precept and although several Liberal Democrat councillors objected to the increase, it was agreed to approve the precept in the sum of £509,629 for 2012-13. It will see residents living in Band D properties paying an extra £4.42 a year per household on last year.
Liberal Democrat councillor Bob Allen questioned whether £10,000 of the precept should go towards the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The money going towards this will cost residents in Band D homes around £1. Cllr Hamilton said he also had concerns about money going towards the celebrations, adding, “To put £10,000 towards the celebrations of the Diamond Jubilee is outrageous, this in my opinion should be self-funding especially when we all consider that money is tight for many families and unemployment is so high.
“In my opinion there are savings to be made within Seaford Town Council budgets and this should have been explored first before agreeing to Seaford residents to increase their local taxes by nearly 10 per cent.”
Councillor Ian White, leader of the town council, added, “I understand Councillor Hamilton’s points of view, I cannot understand his action. If he were that concerned about the council’s finances he could have remained as an independent and not put the council to the cost of a by-election which will run into thousands of pounds.”
Seaford Town Clerk Sam Shippen added, “I received notice of Councillor Andrew Hamilton’s resignation that was given to the mayor on Sunday. I have notified Lewes District Council and the process will begin to fill a vacancy.”
• Do you think Andrew Hamilton was right to resign? Email the Seaford Gazette at eastbourne.herald@trbeckett.co.uk or leave a comment below.
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Comments
There are 6 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
eastdeaner
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 10:38 AMThe comments are spot on. The main occupation of Town and Parish Councils is to waste money on pointless schemes designed to justify their existence.If Seaford Town Council didn't exist, and Seaford survived perfectly well for many years without one, I'm sure interested residents could find ways of celebrating the Jubilee without forcing all residents to stump up the costs
roneoron
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 04:54 PMIt's the stupid ratwitted software this paper uses Veracity. One moment it moderates the comment for no reason, then it changes its mind. It also refuses to recognise a forward slant on the keyboard for some obscure reason. Nil desperandum computem carborundum! (Don't let the technocrap grind you down!)
LeeBennett
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 01:43 PMI have emailed Andy with my full support and respect .An honourable man who has stood by his principles and stood down.I have e mailed others on this kangaroo council and they have either voted against it or abstained.But many have been pressured into voting this absurd party idea in.We live in a so called democracy but as a republican i find myself forced to pay for a party supporting a bunch of people which the cause i support are seeking to remove.I have no isssues about folks having parties providing its self funding ,i.e sale of tickets .This is tantamount to legalised mugging.The replies are ridiculous from these un qualified play politicians who think that they are capable of making important decisions concerning peoples finances and what they think to be correct.Amazing considering that the person leading them could not make the correct decision to order a cab instead of driving home from the pub.God help us.This has now set a president for this bunch of clowns to at will charge us for any non essential event that they deem a good idea,without reasearch nor consultation.They are a disgrace.
Veracity
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 10:54 AMI give up! No point in only being able to post comments in line with this paper's policies! Bye!
Veracity
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 10:52 AMBit like Heathfield and Waldron parish Council. These nonentities, who we would not miss if they didn't exist, have decided that their single shop frontage offices in Heathfield High Street are too small for them. They've taken over the old Pipers double fronted shop opposite their present position and are lavishing multi-bucks on it's upgrading. Who pays? We do, thanks to their raising their Council Tax share by 5.6%!
abel magwitch
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 08:46 AMAt last a Seaford councillor with a modicum of integrity. Shame a few of the others don't take a leaf out of Mr Hamilton's book and do the same thing. This town council use the same excuse every year in order to justify an increase in the precept. They trundle out the old "It's only a small increase per household" argument and expect everyone not to notice. The tories then run an election campaign based on no precept rise and expect us not to notice that either. Hypocrits to a man. I also don't need a councillor to tell me and other hard pressed familys should mark the Jubilee celebrations thank you very much. Personally I won't be doing much and if I do it won't include watching my kids eat soggy sandwiches off a pasting table in Broad Street. Stop trying to organise peoples personal lives and get on with spending the money on infrastructure inprovements for Seaford residents.
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