Three stops in all, The Co-op Oakham and Uppingham, I found them at Tesco Oakham.
Conservative Leader Roger Begy and Conservative Chris Parsons both cabinet members were available to answer the public questions, council employees including Carol Chamber (Helen Briggs deputy). Carol was wearing a stunning black and white designer coat.
Members of the public were given tokens with no value, these tokens were used to vote yes or no. (I understand the Australian visitors voted no...)
Rutlanders were being asked to assist Rutland County Councils Cabinet, helping them decide weather they will increase council tax this year or not.
The question asked was: Should Rutland County Council accept the 2.5% Council Tax freeze on offer from
Central Government?
If you voted yes, you were told the consequences, the council would need to continue to deliver savings. Are saving Cuts? I think so, I am sure Roger Begy told the media this week there would be no further cuts to services.
The council would also need to recover the lost £1,000,000 of Government funding. If the council went with the yes votes it would mean a 0% increase for 2012/2013 The Council says residents would be hit hard in the following years and possible introduce a increase of 3.3% from 2013. Roughly £49 a year.
If they go with the No Votes this would mean a Council Tax Rise this year approximately 2.5% around £37
They will still need to deliver savings.and recover £500,000 of lost government funding.
The full council will set the council tax for 2012 - 13 on 27th February 2012.
I sense the cabinet will recommend option 2, because it unlikely they will want to hit tax payers hard just before the next election.
There will be no public lynching of the councils Conservative cabinet or it's seniour officers at the County Museum this year. The two year trial has ended.
If you missed your chance to have your say please visit the Councils web site and complete their on-line form.
Complete the online budget survey to register your views on the 2012/13 Rutland County Council Budget
