Author: Andrew Taylor

The Special Finance and General Purposes Meeting due to be held on Wednesday 20 February has been cancelled.

The items on the agenda will be placed on the agenda for the regular meeting due on Thursday 21st March 2013 and notices will be issued as normal.

At the present time West Sussex County Council do not plan to issue any more salt/grit supplies to top up the salt bins. Please use the salt/grit reserves in the salt bins near you appropriately and sparingly as we do not know when these are likely to be topped up again. Thank you for your cooperation.

Please note the date of the meeting of the Charities Trustees for Chequer Mead Arts and Community Centre and the Parish Halls Trust has been changed from 14 March 2013. This meeting will now be held on 7 March 2013 in the Council Chamber at East Grinstead Town Council, East Court, immediately following the conclusion of the Public Services Committee meeting of the same date.

It is anticipated the start time will be 8 p.m. However, persons wishing to attend the meeting should arrive by 7.30pm as the meeting will start following the conclusion of Public Services.

East Grinstead Town Council last night set its budget and precept for the 2013/14 year.  The precept is set to rise by 2% to £67.02 per year per band D property. The annual rise ranges from 66p for a Band A to £2.64 for a Band H property, The annual Band D rise is £1.32.

Council Leader Norman Webster said: “In the challenging financial times that we find ourselves in, we have managed to make a number of efficiencies, whilst trying to maintain and indeed improve the services we provide for the town. We are aware of the national picture and proceed with the methodology of a minimal increase in precept to avoid large rises being necessary at a later time where the budget is out of step with real costs, which is the danger of a freeze.

The Town Council services include: civic planting, street furnishings, town promotions and concessionary bus and rail fares.   The Council also gives financial support to business initiatives and many local community organizations, as the national picture contracts, support to the local community is essential through small grants.”

Capital projects will include renovations at East Court and Meridian Hall and a new platform for performances of entertainment at East Court through the summer.

The total East Grinstead Town Council band D council tax, equates to £1.28 per week, comparing favourably with other consumer costs such as 1litre of petrol at £1.36 or a loaf of bread at £1.35.