READING last week's headline I'll agree that the district element of the council tax will undoubtedly show an increase this year but the proportion to the whole of the council charge overall is quite small.

Chiltern District collects the tax on behalf of the county council, the police authorities, the town and parish councils as well as, of course, their own precept.

As I have said council tax will rise but I think we should consider and inform our readers as to why.

There have been many local consultation meetings with members of the public throughout the whole of the district and on each occasion members of the public have been informed of the facts. The council has to find a substantial sum of money with which to re-enforce the pension scheme which is a statutory duty imposed by Central Government and the reason the fund has under performed is, like all pension funds nationally, due to the Chancellor of the Exchequer taking away the tax credits on pension investments.

Turning now to the council's reserves. This money is held in reserve for emergencies and indeed interest on that money helps subsides the council tax. Chiltern District Council, unlike many authorities, is debt free which again helps to keep council tax to a minimum.

Recently the council had the opportunity of purchasing a large amount of land from the county council and negotiations and discussions are underway to build low cost homes for local key workers such as nurses, police and fire fighters. Again this is something that local people have said they would like to see. However, had the council not been prudent and maintained its reserves, money would not have been available to buy this land when it became available.

TESCOS and I understand that the current planning application is shortly due to expire and local people are rallying to have the renewal refused. Once permission has been given, and so long as there are no major changes, renewal is virtually automatic. The original application was refused but permission granted by none other than the Secretary of State and Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott.

To refuse this application would mean a further appeal to the Deputy Prime Minister and not only would it be again granted but very heavy costs be levied on South Bucks District Council.

So not only would local people have to suffer all the problems that Tescos will undoubtedly bring, not least heavy traffic in Bull Lane and Packhorse Road, but they would suffer more pressure on their council tax to fund the heavy costs imposed by Central Government.

January 24, 2003 12:00