Newark Town Council reveals its budget plans for 2023-24

Tax payers will pay an extra 1.94% in council tax to Newark Town Council next year, it has been agreed.

It amounts to an extra £1.52 a year for Band A properties ­— which make up 60% of paying properties covered by the council ­— for a total of £79.88 a year.

The tax demand will bring in half of the council's planned expenditure for the 2023-24 year.

Council clerk Matthew Gleadell said the increase was needed because of the additional expense caused by the cost of living crisis, inflation and national wage agreement increases.

The budget was discussed at a full town council meeting where it was presented by the head of the finance committee, Diane Ledger, who told the meeting it was her first time looking at the figures, sparking a heated debate.

Conservative Johno Lee said it was the first time in his political history that it has happened.

He said: “It’s quite disappointing we are here with a budget being proposed that they don’t understand. I must be spoiled because elsewhere in the district council this would never happen.

“A budget would never be brought forward by the leader of the district council who doesn’t understand, a budget would never be brought by Ben Bradley at the county council if they don’t understand it.

“It might be because they’re Conservatives and I am being political. When we were first elected to this council we didn’t win, we didn’t get the votes, we didn’t win and that’s fine, it happens. But if it wasn’t for David Lloyd, Max Cope, Rita Crowe, Rob Crowe and their expertise and knowledge, you would be dead in water and you know it, you secretly do know it.”

Independent councillor Irene Brown replied: “I resent what you have just said and I also resent that you are pointing at me. You’re entitled to your opinion but in Council Chambers, we are here to represent the council, we all have different politics ­— Labour, Independent, Conservative ­— we all represent different areas.”

The councillors argued that the meeting wasn’t a political matter but a town budget matter.

To put an end at the discussion, Labour councillor Jane Olson said: “As always, we value your contribution immensely (directed to David Lloyd who suggested amendments to the budget). We really appreciate everything that you bring, except for the little bits at the end where you add a political bit.

“I stand here as a human being and I would like to contribute to this council on behalf of the people from my ward who elected me to be a voice for them.”

A total of £40,000 allocated for climate change work was removed from the budget, with the funding coming instead from a under-spend from previous years and the Community Infrastructure Levy provided by developers.

The budgets for maintenance and repairs of the town hall, Bowls Green and Buttermarket are not being reduced just funded from sources other than next year’s council tax such as reserves and underspends in current year budgets.

Markets marketing also is being funded from other sources than council tax including reserves and grants.

Forecasts for income from cemetery fees , market fees and town hall hire fees have been increased from the first draft budget for next year, but the actual costs for those services have not at this stage been increased.

Money was allocated in the budget for the Brass Explosion, Sunday Band Concerts in the castle grounds, Christmas lights switch-on, Newark Festival and Christmas lighting.

The amendment was approved by six of councillors, refused by five and one councillor abstained from the vote.