Challenged council finances will be concern
THE warning by the chief executive of Louth County Council issued last week that the local authority faces losses ‘running into millions’ as a result of the lockdown caused by COVID-19 is grim news for all.
The losses will be caused by businesses unable to pay their rates and the reduction in pay parking revenue caused by empty town centres over a period of three months.
It is unlikely that the government will be able to compensate local authorities for all of the fall in their revenue, and if the council cannot find alternative revenue sources, swingeing cutbacks will have to be made to the vital services provided by the council.
The chief executive was right to put her councillors on notice at their meeting held recently that they should be giving serious consideration in the coming months as to how to meet their statutory obligations next year.
Contained in that warning was the prospect, mentioned by the chief executive, that members may have to bite the bullet and consider an increase in the property charge on all households to meet the shortfall.
That prospect is not one that the councillors will relish for obvious reasons, and before they embrace that unwelcome scenario they face long and difficult meetings at which the estimates for next year will be scrutinised.
The council will also face, in the coming months, demands from hard pressed business owners in town centres in the county not just for financial help, but for more understanding in the policing of planning restrictions in public spaces outside of their premises.
Social distancing, and other measures recommended by health officials mean that more people want to have a coffee or eat a meal in the open air, and cafes and restaurants should therefore be allowed use the public space outside their premises at no risk of sanctions provided they cause no obstruction
Other businesses may want to erect a canopy or temporary shelter outside of their premises to provide cover in winter months for those needing to queue before entering a shop.
In these circumstances the authorities must adopt a common sense approach for the reality is that this is a very difficult time for all concerned, and the only way that we will get through this is by working for the common good.
There are indications that the council are adopting a positive attitude towards these concerns with sources suggesting that some local coffee shops and restaurants will be allowed put outdoor seating in place on footpaths and even in car parking spaces in the coming weeks and that some of this work will be at the behest of the council itself, while additional rates for such items will not be charged at this time.
The councillors and their officials cannot ignore the difficulties that the pandemic has caused to businesses, especially those in the footwear, clothing and hardware areas, for many of these traders can do nothing but watch the increased frequency of delivery services from on-line providers calling to homes throughout the town.
We need to do everything we can to protect the life blood of our town centres and if this means turning a blind eye to minor violations of planning or bye-laws, and better still, imposing additional taxes on on-line providers to compensate town centre traders, then this must be done.
A major investment has just been completed in upgrading Dundalk’s main streets and a situation cannot be envisaged whereby that investment was in vain.