Authority is struggling withbudget (From Tewkesbury Admag)
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Authority is struggling withbudget
11:26am Thursday 30th November 2006 in News
Public toilets, street cleaning and free parking are all under threat as Tewkesbury Borough Council struggle to keep a reins on next year's budget.
In February they will set the amount of council tax residents will be expected to pay. But before then they are examining all their options to try and keep the final bill as low as possible.
Members of the housing and environment committee recommended this week that the toilet in Gander Lane be refurbished and offered up to the town council.
If they do not agree to take it on the refurbishment it will not be carried out at all and the lavatory will be closed in 2008.
Local councillor Joan Sklenar suggested the toilets might also be offered to the Abbey Lawn's Trust, which owns the land they stand on.
Head of development Chris Shaw agreed to look into this.
The councillors also voted in favour of introducing a small parking charge at the Station Road Car Park.
They agreed to Coun Joan Sklenar's suggestion, that if charging is introduced it should be made safer with the installation of security cameras.
Meanwhile, plans for a new smaller rubbish collection and litter picking lorry to service rural areas have also been put on hold for the time being.
The community and economy committee has also recommended the council investigate the possibility of withdrawing its £8,000 grant to the town museum.
But, curator Maggie Thornton said the grant represents 20 per cent of the museum's total income and losing it would be a disaster.
Officers are also being asked to look into the possibility of selling or renting the Old Baptist Chapel Cottage.
All the recommendations be discussed by members of the full council when it meets on December 19.
Borough treasurer Pete Anthill said: "I am hoping that they will be able to tell me at that meeting what level of council tax they want to set - then I can start working out how to get it for them."
