Results of 2010/11 budget consultation in Winchelsea

The following is a summary of the response to a questionnaire sent out to all residents of Winchelsea asking what they would like to see in the 2010/11 budget. 104 adults responded, by far the largest indication of public opinion in the parish. The results were studiously ignored by the parish council.

1  Unless there are really worthwhile projects, the aim should be to reduce the budget and precept.

YES 81%   NO  11%
2   No new projects should be added to the budget until all previous ones are completed.
YES 64%   NO 21%
3   All new projects should be programmed, so that tax is not levied until it is needed.
YES 89%   NO   0%
4   No project should be included in the budget until the possibility of grants has been properly explored.
YES 87%   NO 9%
5   As recommended by the Council's own Financial Regulations, budget planning should extend three years into the future.
YES 85%   NO 0%
6   In line with best practice, all capital projects should be assessed when completed to check that they have been properly managed, and all recipients of grants should be required to report back on how grants were spent.
YES 96%   NO 0%
7   The Contingency Fund should be cut to £5,000.
YES 70%   NO 6%
8   The Chairman's Allowance (£450) should be abolished.
YES 64%   NO 13%
9   The budgets for Quality Parish Council (£1,500) and youth project (£1,000) should be axed until programmes of implementation are produced.
YES 75%   NO 4%
10  There should be no further expenditures on new playground equipment until need is assessed and a clear strategy produced. There should be a cap on annual spending on playgrounds in order to smooth out future replacement costs.
YES 75%   NO 6%
11  The budgets for Playground Maintenance (£2,500) and Rye Harbour Flagpole (£1,000) should be cut back until programmes of implementation are published.
YES 74%   NO 4%
12  Grants to village halls should only be made in cases of need, where the village hall applies for a particular capital project.
YES 77%   NO 9%
13  The priority for next year's budget should be to bring the condition of land owned or leased by the Council, particularly its allotments, up to a high standard. The allotments need effective external fencing.
YES 66%   NO 4%
14  A water supply to the Pear Tree Marsh allotments. This should be a green solution in the form of a solar-powered pump to extract water from the river.
YES 64%   NO 8%
15  The derelict land next to the allotments at Pear Tree Marsh allotments, which is used for parking by just a select handful of residents, should be converted into a secure car park open to all residents of Tanyard Lane. There should be a modest charge for a parking space in order to recoup the cost.
YES 64%   6%
16  The bus shelter in The Strand is in a disgusting state and not well-designed to deter vandalism. It should be rebuilt in brick and tile, with the front open to view, and well-lit.
YES 77%   No 8%
17  A programme to clean the bus shelters and benches in Winchelsea.
YES 89%   NO 6%
18  The Council pays the annual recalibration fee for the Winchelsea speed gun.
YES 89%   NO 4%
19  A grant towards the archaeological investigation of the new site for a public tennis court being discussed by the Winchelsea Tennis Association and Winchelsea Cricket Club, to be match-funded by a grant from Rother.
YES 75%   NO 4%
20  A new sign for Wesley tree.
YES 68%   NO 6%

Comments included: the Council should never borrow; the Council should renegotiate the rent for Rye Harbour flagpole; there should be no charge for the Pear Tree Marsh car park; the Chairman's Allowance should be a £100 expenses account; the Council should repair the grass verges; Winchelsea needs more footpaths in and out; there needs to be a VAS on Tanyard Lane; there should be visitor parking.