Papalscope ,

TISBURY
PARISH Council Meeting Tuesday.7th.June 2016.

Item 16.6.14 on agenda . Ref Brocante Sale Funding.

A little over a year ago a sum of money was collected from Tisbury Rate Payers to fund the newly created ‘Brocante Sale’ in the village. Happily there was no debit against the money collected, and the capital sum was seemingly banked. It occurred to me at the time that such money should have become a contribution to this current year’s Rate payers liabilities, but it wasn’t , so one is inclined to wonder why it wasn’t.

The Brocante Sale may -‘benefit', antique dealers. and hopefully local trades persons. If it does , maybe it would not be unreasonable for such traders to fund the event for themselves, rather than have The Parish Ratepayers do so on their behalf. Naturally West Tisbury Ratepayers make no contribution. Surely such events should not be the financial concern of either Parish Council? I for one, very much object to our Parish Council funding the event at all, and seemingly wrongfully, supposed that such was some  other rate payers opinion last year?

WHAT THEN OF TISBURY RATEPAYERS ?

In particular I give as an example a couple living in the sticks circa two miles from Central Tisbury.

I have no wish to be invidious but having already vacated the main bulk of the original house we occupied, in favour of a then lower rated attached ‘wing’ ,One is surprised to find that my wife and I are now the second highest Rate Payer in ‘our’ post code, Our cottage having now financial precedence over all other houses bar one .This either because all other houses in the road have either remained assessed at their lower rateable value prior to subsequent restoration, or have but a single occupier, benefiting from a 10% discount.

Such debits and exemptions may be the explanation for our Band F. cottage paying out £2,303.48 per annum in rates this year, whilst last year one paid but £2,180.52. An increase of £122.96 over last year. ie an extra £2.37 a week. Is it to be supposed that UNDISCOUNTED houses pay the balance of the rates of those houses which receive discounts ? I rather think such is the case. Furthermore why should we pay FAR MORE in rates every month of the year , than does an otherwise undiscounted friend, and neighbour , in a close -by detached upgraded landed property? Property needs to be revalued, NOW.

With due respect to the Parish Council’s aspirations for the affairs of central Tisbury, might it bear in mind that enterprises such as the Tisbury Brocante which may or may not benefit local shop keepers, are little more than a financial burden on others.( Even Grosvenor House Antiques Fair is no more, because its organisers couldn’t afford to run it.) Goodness knows why Tisbury Parish Council sees itself such a good fairy.
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AS FOR THAT AMESBURY EAST BYE- ELECTION HELD ON THE 5TH OF MAY 2016. THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY LOST THE SEAT. ONE WONDERS CONCERNING PARTY    POLITICS ON THE COUNTY COUNCIL