Cromer Town Council approves a 20% tax increase despite public anger and alternative proposals for managing finances.
The council first suggested a 49 percent increase. This made people in the town quite angry. A referendum demanded a much smaller rise. A local poll showed voters preferred a 10 percent rise. Most people wanted the lower tax increase.
The town council was not required to follow poll results, and ignored the poll at the meeting. People wanted councilors to resign from their positions. The audience shouted “shame on you” many times. The council voted to raise the tax by 20 percent, even though the council also holds £491,000 in reserve funds.
A key debate point was the council’s headquarters. North Lodge requires £260,000 for planned improvements. Mayor Pat West defended the council’s decision. She said she trusts financial advisors’ judgment. She also stated she is not a financial expert.
The council must maintain North Lodge, she explained. The budget must address current ownership costs, she added. The meeting covered different parts of the annual budget. Councilor David Pritchard opposed the tax increase. He mentioned budget costs seemed excessive; tree work, clock tower upkeep, and the mayoral chain cost too much.
Some councilors discussed the town’s reserves. Auditors thought the reserves were too high. They suggested using assets more effectively. The council’s £491,000 reserve is above national recommendations. It is more than the annual spending amount. Most councilors did not want to use the reserves. They chose to raise taxes by 20 percent instead.
Plans for North Lodge were paused. However, the planning permission process continues. Councilor Tim Adams suggested a different budget. “The council underestimates its financial capacity,” he said. He felt they could have met the residents’ request.
The tax increase affects Band D properties. They will see the town council share rise from £98.01 to around £117.61.