A really taxing matter
A few weeks ago I wrote to the Post regarding the unfair council tax and the implications for the local economy of what is an unfair tax.
I said it was not a progressive system of taxing households.
The distribution of the £ 55million plus of South Ayrshire Council tax funding in the next year will highlight this unfair method of taxation.
There was some surprise in the discussion in Holyrood of the principles of next year’s budget when Patrick Harvie, the leader of the Greens said he favoured a progressive system of taxation yet he supported this budget which included the council tax hike ? Confused or what?
What is more confusing that the budget froze the 40p tax upper level which would raise an extra £ 29 million, yet the additional amount “released “was an extra £ 220 million.
Where did the extra £ 190 million come from and why was it not in the budget pronouncement just a few weeks ago. How can councils, businesses and households have any faith in the national budget housekeeping?
While an extra £ 2/ 3 million if that is what it is for local spend is welcome, the suspicion that this “extra” money came from a Scottish Government underspend. if so, that has to be questioned given the state of our roads for example. initiative to establish and grow.
Unlike the disaster they have allowed to befall the Ayr Flower Show. The council may not be to blame for its collapse but they have to be asked if they did everything that was reasonably possible to ensure its survival.
The show has been a vital part of Ayrshire’s calendar for many years and allowing it to fall is a disgrace.
How much will the council now have to spend to come up with a new initiative to generate a similar number of visitors and economic benefit to the area, compared to the cost of keeping the existing, superb Ayr Flower Show going?
It’s time for a change at South Ayrshire Council so that priorities can be reassessed. Do I smell a bit of Prestwick snobbery in the air?
Julie Twaddle, who sits on Prestwick North Community Council, is getting uppity about South Ayrshire Council’s proposal to get rid of two eyesore buildings in the centre of the town and replacing them with much needed social housing.
May I ask her to look at the hugely successful development by Ayrshire Housing on the former site of the Prince of Wales public bar in Ayr and ask the families what difference these houses have made to their lives?
Finally I would like to ask Julie what her ideas for the site are - could it be another eaterie or gastro pub, or we can keep up the under offer signs and leave well be, aka “Station Hotel, Ayr”. I live in hope! way to address the problem. towards there Young Leadership qualifications, Duke of Edinburgh Award, Commonwealth Award the girls still attend regular meetings with the Rangers, complete badge work and attend camp.
They complete a lot of community voluntary work and also raise money for local charities throughout the year.
We are looking for funding/ fundraising/ sponsor/ donation opportunities to raise as much money as possible to attend their International Camp in Barcelona in September 2017. This would give all our girls the opportunity to attend without leaving anyone out due to financial reasons.
I’m sure you will agree that everyone of them deserve to go and celebrate their hard work and fabulous achievements through Guiding.
Not only will they have fun but they will work on there team building skills, take in historical sites, learn about different cultures, learn some spanish, complete there international octant badge and will have the opportunity to use this experience towards their Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
We would be more than happy to attend any meetings to discuss and share what we achieve at Prestwick Rangers.
Please feel free to contact me should you require any additional information, if you any suggestions of additional organisations who may be able to help, etc.
It will all be greatly appreciated by myself the leaders team and of course the girls. We would be more than happy to attend any meetings to discuss and share what we achieve at Prestwick Rangers.