Councillors in clash over increase in parish precept

A ROW erupted during a parish meeting after councillors clashed over a rise in council tax precepts — with one branding an attack on him ‘outrageous’.

Bernard Peters, ward councillor for Brizlincote Valley on East Staffordshire Borough Council, hit out at a meeting of Brizlincote Parish Council after member Kay Sherratt accused him of making ‘politically motivated comments’ following his questioning of the council’s decision to increase its parish precept by seven per cent, or £1,000.

Councillor Peters raised the issue after he warned that residents would be asking the same question, saying he wanted to ensure the parish council was ready with an answer.

He said: “When the borough council, county council, police and fire have committed to a freeze, I just need to ask why the parish council has opted for a seven per cent increase? What are you doing with it?

“I think as the borough councillor I should ask these questions as they will be posed to me and the parish council in the future.”

Following Councillor Peters’ questions, parish council member Kay Sherratt reacted angrily, claiming the comments were ‘politically motivated’.

She said: “I have to disagree with the councillor and would go as far as to say that his comments are politically motivated.

“The parish council sets its own precept and doesn’t expect to be dictated to about what it has done.”

Councillor Peters hit back, saying: “I totally refute the accusation that my comments were politically motivated.

“I have never heard anything so outrageous in my life and it is totally unacceptable in my opinion.

“I cannot believe I have been accused of this. It is disrespectful and probably reflects the councillor’s own political views more than it does mine.”

At the meeting it was revealed the parish precept for 2012-13 would be £16,000, a £1,000 increase compared to the figure of £15,000 for the last three years.