Cromer Tax Vote Shows Public Concerns on Council’s Spending Plans

Cromer folks spoke up in a recent vote. The town council wanted to raise council tax a lot, which made people quite upset. They questioned the council’s money handling.

Many worried about North Lodge’s future, a Grade II listed building. Plans included spending £260,000 on it, covering access and upkeep costs.

The disagreement led to a local vote that happened last Thursday. Eight hundred fifty people voted on four questions addressing the tax rise of nearly fifty percent.

Question one: Limit the tax rise to 10 percent? Six hundred sixty-two said yes to that idea. Question two: Sell North Lodge? Five hundred voted yes to selling it off.

The third question was about office space: Should the council move to smaller offices? Five hundred eighty-five people agreed. The last question concerned future planning: Should Cromer have a plan? Should residents be consulted well? Seven hundred eighty-nine voters said yes.

Thirteen percent voted overall. The poll’s results don’t bind the council, but citizens showed up at a meeting before the vote to protest the big tax increase.

Carole Thomas helped lead the poll effort. She said she was happy with the results and thinks people care what happens locally. Thomas hopes the council listens to residents. The council planned a meeting for mid-February.

Tim Adams is a town councillor and also leads the district council. Adams thinks the poll shows what people want and believes the town council will follow it. He offered to help them move forward, then expressed feeling conflicted about North Lodge, and hoping they can put this behind them. The town council did not comment.