Villagers stunned as parish council tax doubles (From Bucks Free Press)

• "Naomi Arnold was part of a spend nothing, do nothing regime.
  
  I have observed many parish council meetings and seen parishioners bring their issues to the old council. They were told 'Of course we'd love to do something but we have no money'. A council that can't meet the needs of its electors is a total waste of time and money. All they did was pick fights with other groups in the village, like the football club and the village hall charity.
  
  District and County councils have only been able to freeze their council tax because of a 2.5% grant from central government, not offered to towns and parishes.
  
  The parish council asked South Bucks District Council for action on disabled access to Bells Hill shops and for lighting on the steps. They were told to pay for it using their own funds.
  
  They asked South Bucks to clear unsightly rubbish, and hazardous waste from a field in Green Belt and were asked to pay for the work using parish funds. No wonder they have increased the precept - they need to, otherwise nothing would get done.
  
  Stoke Poges has a parish council with some ambition to bring the village into the 21st century. Not before time."
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