Conisborough UDC – Three Penny Rate Increase

April 1936

Mexborough & Swinton Times April 17, 1936

Conisborough UDC.

Three Penny Rate Increase

Conisborough Urban Council held a special meeting on Tuesday to approve the estimates of expenditure and to lay a general rate for the urban district for the half year ended September 30 next.

Mr R. H. Shepard, chairman, presided, and apologises for absence where offered on behalf of Messrs B. Roberts and H. Gomersall.

The Clerk (Mr Spencer Baker) explained that the fiance committee had met and considered the estimates present it by the officials and also by Mr David Sheldon and had recommended that the special items enumerated it in a memorandum prepared by the chief financial officer and the surveyor, amounting to £3510, should be cut from the estimates, that the estimates now totalling £45,909 be approved and that they also recommend that a general rate of nine shillings in the pound should be levied for the half year.

The rate represents an increase of three pence in the pound for the half-year.

Mr J. Leatherland moved that the recommendations be adopted and Mr J Humphreys seconded, but Mr J. I. Webster said he wanted to move that the rates be nine shillings 3 ½d. In the pound. He fought that that was the figure which was necessary if they were going to balance their budget. They found from their estimates that the rates ought to be 9s 3 ½ d. – which was an increase of 6 ½ d on the half-year – 1s 1d on the full-year. Instead they were going to take from their balances £700 and the half-year, and he fought that while their balances could stand that rate now the time would come, very shortly, when they would have to “jump” their rates if they wanted to maintain those balances at a proper figure.

Mr Webster’s proposal found no second, however, and in view of that the chairman (Mr R. H. Shepard) could not allow any discussion, but Mr R. J. Troughton said he was sorry that the chairman could not permit a reply, because there was a complete answer to Mr Webster’s assertions.

The council approved the committee’s recommendations.