MR WILSON, in his letter of last week, criticises myself and the Aylesbury Town Council for a so-called 'lack of transparency' in one sentence then goes on to berate us for being transparent and open about the extension of the Town Cemetery into the adjoining allotment land.
Ensuring that all the residents of the town are informed about a major decision of the Town Council is neither 'pandering' nor 'pussy footing around'.
Such expressions suggest a lack of tolerance towards those who are opposed to Mr Wilson's point of view, an attitude that is not acceptable on a Council which tries to hear all opinions and acts for the benefit of the whole of our community.
Can you please can pass on my assurance to Brian Wilson that, as an Aylesbury resident, he indeed has the right to be buried in the Aylesbury Cemetery, carrots, nor any other vegetable, do not.
The 'council assets' in Aylesbury are currently operated and paid for by the Town Council and Aylesbury Vale District Council through its Aylesbury Special Expenses.
Year by year the Town Council tax bill will go up, as the AVDC tax bill goes down, as the Aylesbury assets are transferred from the AVDC to the Town Council.
Combining both spends shows a total increase for this year of 11 per cent.
This is due to an expansion of the Town Council's activities for the town, not because of the transfer of the cemetery.
The Town Council is increasing its investment in the town's environment, enhancing the quality and number of town civic and entertainment events, increasing its representative activities and growing the grants available within the local community.
The Council's budget and accounts can be scrutinised at our monthly Council meetings which Mr Wilson and every Aylesbury citizen are invited to attend.
A general article explaining the rise in the Council Precept can be found on page 2 in the recent April edition of Aylesbury Town Council Magazine, which also includes details of the cemetery issue on page 5, a new environment initiative with Bucks County Council on page 17 and what to do with unwanted uncooked carrots on page 13.
Cllr Steve Patrick
Leader, Aylesbury Town CouncilDo you accept Cllr Patrick's defence of the town council?To comment on this or any other Bucks Herald story, click here
To post comments directly on this website, click on the Comment on this Story link below
The full article contains 421 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
