Dear Sir,
I refer to the article ‘Credulous Dimwits’ and would like to make a few incorrect comments, whilst it is true that I have retired from the Council I do however take an active role in my community and the things that are around, I am also unlikely to make a return to the Council given that there have been four by elections and, at a cost of £11,000 each and at my age I don’t want to become the fifth and put an extra burden on the tax payer. The writer seems to think that the Lib/Dems are a breath of fresh air, that is not the feedback I am getting from local residents. They may be okay in other areas, but Byerley Park is not one of them. I was the original person who set up the litter picking group which happened during lockdown.
While out walking I noticed the amount of litter and decided to take action. On another walk I met Cllr Ian Gray and asked if the Council would help, which happened and now we are officially known as the ‘Great Aycliffe Tidy Team’. We meet every Wednesday morning around the town, on land in the ownership of Great Aycliffe Town Council, we not only pick litter but also clear anything the fly tippers fancy dumping including double bed bases and last week a settee along with burnt out wheely bins and car parts.
An attack was made against Arun Chandran who was accused of having a crystal ball, well he doesn’t need a crystal ball, If Cllr Stead was at the last AAP Board meeting he would have seen the following information:
• The council is able to raise council tax in 2022/23 by 4.99% – this is a 1.99% ‘base’ council tax increase (i.e. the referendum limit) and a 3% adult social care precept the council is able to utilise in 2022/23.
This was part of a presentation given by an officer from DCC.
Now back to the litter / fly tipping, the anonymous writer may wish to join the team, they can contact Cllr’s Ian Gray or Arun Chandran, who are part of the team and under the litter picking guidance given by DCC, a coordinator should be appointed and to that end the group appointed Cllr Ian Gray.
Back to the Council Tax, the Lib/Dems during the election campaign, said in the leaflet that they would reduce the Council Tax to do that you need to make cuts, no information has been given as to HOW? The figure above does not include GATC or the Police precept.
Vince Crosby