Crewe Town Council has set out its plans for 2020. There will be increased investment in events, in support for residents through community groups, and in improving the appearance and tidiness of the town amongst a host of other things.
The Leader of the Council, Councillor Jill Rhodes told a Council meeting last night that “The Council has built a very successful events programme. We have just held the massively successful Lumen Christmas event which not only entertained the residents of Crewe but brought in visitors and gained national recognition. We look forward to an extended programme next year, and to another successful summer TrAction event. The Council has successfully worked with the community to support the volunteers who work tirelessly for the benefit of residents in the town. Without Council support many voluntary organisations would not be able to carry out this good work.
The Council also really needs to continue to support the extra staff who are involved daily in helping to remove fly-tipped rubbish and educate residents about refuse disposal.”
The Council is going to invest this year in projects and activities related to Crewe’s history working alongside groups such as the residents of the Railway Cottages to preserve our local heritage. There will be improved planting and floral displays in the Town Centre.
Of course, all this comes at a cost. Councillor Rhodes said “the Council, like all organisations is facing a rise in costs from things like the rises in national Insurance costs. Just to keep things as they are there will need to be an increase in the precept” (the small share of residents’ Council Tax that goes to the Town Council). To meet these additional costs and to continue to develop the Council’s ambitious programme, the Town Council at its meeting last night agreed to raise the precept by just over 24%. She continued “this may seem a large percentage, but it is a very small amount in money terms. For residents in Band A rated property, which is the commonest house type in Crewe, it will mean an extra £10.32 a year. This is less than £1 a month, or less than 25p a week. This modest rise in the precept will allow the council to work towards meeting its ambitions. These are to build on the successful events programme; to continue to assist community groups to support residents and their interests; to protect and enhance the heritage of Crewe; and lastly to raise the profile of the town locally and nationally.”
