I ATTENDED the meeting of the Andover Town Council on March 17, 2016 to seek assurance that the 89 per cent rise in the annual precept was backed by robust financial scrutiny procedures to ensure the money was the minimum necessary and well spent.

I was disappointed. Although I can appreciate increases are necessary to cover increased costs of elections etc (because the costs far exceed what we were told when voting for a town council), no financial scrutiny procedures were demonstrated.

Instead I heard of proposals to transfer responsibility for bus shelters from TVBC without the transfer of money – thus costing the taxpayer £15,000 more; the purchase of some form of bauble of office for the leader costing well over £1,000; the purchase of bigger premises because of the unexplained increase in staff.

Only one saving/efficiency was mentioned; the fact that by-elections had been avoided by co-opting individuals to the council. What price of democracy? I am afraid that the children really are in charge of the sweet shop and it appears that practically any project that is dreamt up is likely to be financed by us, the council tax payer. Stand by for further increases in future years.

David Clark, Conholt Road, Andover

Editor’s note: The Advertiser put Mr Clark’s criticism to Andover Town Council, which said in a statement:

“Andover Town Council has to put aside at least £63,000 for the elections in 2019 (as this is what it would have cost in 2015) however this still will not be sufficient to cover the costs so the Budget for the elections has been increased.

In 2010 the cost of the elections was approximately £32,000, this would have increased to £63,000 in 2015 so the town council is predicting the 2019 election costs will be in the region of £93,000.

“The town council will potentially be taking on the bus shelters in 2016, monies are required to run these therefore a new budget has been created to cover this cost.

£10,000 has been set aside to cover the costs of running the bus shelters.

“The town council will be taking on a new member of staff to assist with the increasing number of committees and responsibilities, including bus shelters and charity street licences, therefore the staffing budget had to be increased.

“The town council will need to find new premises in the near future as the current offices are not equality compliant, therefore monies have been set aside to assist with the rent/purchase of new offices.

“The reserves that the town council holds are recommended to be at least half a years running costs, the town councils are well below this level and it has a duty to ensure that the reserves are adequate, therefore monies have been set aside for reserves.

“For the past three years Test Valley Borough Council have not passed on the parish council grant, that they have been given by central government to give to town and parish council’s following the tax recalculations, this was last calculated in 2013 to be in excess of £18,000 they are one of only 17 across the county not to pass on this grant.

“The town council will be putting on more events in 2016/2017, as well as providing a regular newsletter of its activities. Monies have been set aside to cover these costs.

“The extra monies set aside in the budget for the chairman to have a badge made and to cover the costs of the increasing number of functions which they are being asked to attend (Andover is getting itself on the map).

“Finally, due to the poor uptake of allotment plots and ever increasing costs for services as well as compulsory health and safety work that must be carried out, the allotments are costing the town council in excess of an extra £12,000 this next year. This is a one off cost and allotment costs should return to normal next year.

“Andover Town Council still has the lowest precept for town and parish councils in Test Valley and is well below the average of £52 per Band D tax household.

“For the provision of its services the town council always carries out due diligence process by obtaining at least three quotes for the work to be done. These processes are written in to the town council’s standing orders and financial regulations.

“The town council is audited internally and externally every year and all documentation is available for public scrutiny.”