The cherished community group Amersham in Bloom has made the town and the surrounding areas greener, beautiful and sustainable as its volunteers plant flower beds and trees.
For several years running, the group – largely with volunteer support - has won awards at Britain in Bloom competition for their outstanding work and conservation efforts, and the group even featured in a BBC TV show.
Now the Town Council plans to increase the town tax precept by 18 per cent to finance a paid team to run Amersham in Bloom, Town Council draft minutes reveal.
At a meeting held on January 17, a total of eight Amersham Town Councillors voted in favour of the precept increase to cover “enhanced ‘Bloom 2’ initiatives, as well as increased costs of running existing council services”.
All the Liberal Democrat Councillors- who hold majority in the Town Council - voted in favour, while the seven Conservative Councillors voted against the proposal.
Following the proposal, an online petition was launched allegedly by a Conservative campaigner James Watts, calling residents to save Amersham in Bloom.
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The ‘Save Amersham in Bloom’ petition, currently with over 180 signatures, said: “The Lib Dems think they know better than the team of dedicated volunteers and want to take the glory - whilst making us pay for it.”
Please join our campaign to Save Amersham in Bloom by signing our petition https://t.co/gWpRaA4ujf
— Save Amersham in Bloom (@SaveAmerInBloom) February 19, 2022
Liberal Democrat Councillor for Amersham on the Hill Dominic Pinkney commented the contentious plans:
“I am delighted to tell you that Liberal Democrat funding decisions have ensured that Amersham in Bloom is protected and will flourish.
“Amersham in Bloom is a brilliant collaboration between Town Council staff, who carry out heavy duty work as well as engagement with the community (e.g. schools), and a fantastic group of dedicated volunteers who tend to flower displays and other activities around our beautiful town.
However, all Councillors were told in January that “Amersham in Bloom in its current state is “not sustainable” due to staff capacity”, Councillor Pinkney said.
Conservative Bucks Councillor for Penn Wood and Old Amersham and Amersham Town Councillor Mark Dormer said:
“At a time when food, petrol and heating prices are going through the roof, I find it highly offensive for the 18% increase in the precept to not only be imposed, but to be insensitively described by one Liberal Councillor as ‘just a few cappuccinos’.
"This is tone deaf and insulting to residents.”
“’Amersham in Bloom’ is a wonderful success story powered by local ‘Bloomer’ volunteers. They have won countless awards and have put Amersham on the map.
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Councillor Dormer didn’t understand why anyone wants to interfere “with something which is already a huge triumph”.
He added: “Leave our ‘Amersham in Bloom’ alone!”
The Liberal Democrat councillors voted to give £40,000 support to Amersham in Bloom for extra resources to cover heavy duty work and engagement activities, Councillor Pinkney said.
He said: “This also enables us to maintain and support the volunteer programme just as it is.
“The Amersham Town Council precept is rising by £22 for the year 2022-23 for an average band D property, which is 18 per cent.
“But nearly two-thirds of this is due to unavoidable costs including the Council’s own energy and insurance costs, and dealing with the backlog of projects we inherited, such as the long-awaited repairs to the Market Hall and others in the pipeline.
“The additional sum is just an extra 39p per week on average, less than the cost of a pint of milk.
“This confirms our commitment to deliver on the promises we made to residents: to enhance our town and support our high streets.
“Meanwhile, at the time of writing, Conservative led Buckinghamshire Council is increasing Council Tax by significantly larger amounts, has not produced a clear plan for how it will help Amersham's high streets and is cutting further Community Board budgets.
“The plan which the Liberal Democrat group passed will deliver good things for Amersham. We are proud to stand up for Amersham and support our town in growing better and better.”
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