New storage sought after being given notice to leave

A COUNCIL is on the look out for a building where it can store items.

Leek Town Council presently stores all its equipment including the town’s Christmas light decorations and a trailer at Fowlchurch in Leek.

However, Staffordshire Moorlands’ waste collection service has merged and become a separate company and the town council has been given notice to leave.

Councillor Brian Johnson said: “We need a waterproof and secure building with good access to store our equipment which includes the Christmas lights, cones, bunting, containers, steps and trailer.

“It needs to be a reasonable size, waterproof and secure.

“The town council has got to move out of a building at Fowlchurch due to a new waste company being formed and they want to do things differently and need more space.

“We have to move all our items by next month.

At last week’s meeting of the town council members decided to defer the annual precept for next year’s council tax until at a meeting in February as the cost of removal and rent for the storage had to be taken into account.

Speaking at last week’s town council meeting, Mr Johnson said: “We have to sort out the situation at Fowlchurch before we can set a precept for the forthcoming year.

“The issue could have a substantial effect on the amount of precept we require from our share of the council tax as relocating could have a financial burden.

“We have looked at an extension at Fowlchurch, but this is not possible.”

Councillor John Povey said that the council had to identify all costs including new IT equipment before setting the forthcoming council tax.

Meanwhile, Councillor

Pam Wood said that if Leek still had a town hall the town council would not be dependant on Staffordshire Moorlands District Council.

Leek town mayor,

Roy Tomkinson, said: “Staffordshire Moorlands District Council is looking to save money.

“They are looking at passing costs onto town and parish councils.

“It is wrong.”

Councillors agreed to hold a meeting to set their share of forthcoming council tax precept on Wednesday, February 6 at 7pm in their offices in Stockwell Street.

Anyone who has storage space available is asked to urgently contact the town clerk, Julie Taylor, on 01538 381271.