LETTER: Change forced on parishes

In District News on February 7, HDC is reported as saying it will help low income families by maintaining council tax benefit when the Government withdraws some of its funding.

By The Newsroom

Published 4th Aug 2013, 09:00 BST

What is not mentioned is that part of this shortfall was passed on to parish councils so those parishes which have the highest number of recipients of the benefit will pay the greatest amount.

This will result in parish councils having to increase the parish element of council tax by up to 1.5 per cent.

The council assumes that the unparished areas will also have an increased charge.

Parishes were given no choice in this matter nor were they consulted.

It is true that HDC could have retained all of the government grant and so resulted in a maximum increase of 15 per cent.

HDC has not confirmed that it will not do this next year, so parishes could have an even bigger charge forced on them and their electors.

Perhaps HDC could come clean on this now?

ROGER ARTHUR

(UKIP) Horsham district councillor for Chanctonbury, North Street, Horsham