A FORMER member of a parish council has spoken out against a controversial decision to raise its part of the council tax by 16 per cent.

John Buckley, who resigned from Warndon Parish Council last year after five years, attended a meeting as a member of the public and spoke during public question time about the decision.

But in a motion carried by five votes to three, the council agreed to up the precept, which means an average rise of £2.04 for each household.

As reported in the Worcester News last month, the parish council had agreed a four per cent budget increase in December but upped its proposal fearing the Government could impose a cap on parish councils next year.

Speaking before the vote was cast, Mr Buckley said: “I have to say that I’m rather stunned by rumours that you are going to consider a two- figure percentage when there are a lot of people in the villages out of work, retired or looking for work.

“In this day and age and in this environment, I wouldn’t up it.”

Chairman Ray Morris said the extra money would go towards tree maintenance, shrub maintenance and potential pathway work.

Councillor Morris said: “It’s really not a simple matter of a 16 per cent increase.

“It seems horrendous, I accept that. However, as someone once said to me, 16 per cent of nothing is not very much.

“The reason this has been brought up by me is because there was a perceived need to do enhanced estate management work, not things that will be done under general maintenance roles.

“It’s crying out for this additional work. Trees are falling apart, they need serious attention.

"It’s important to stay on top of the maintenance, otherwise people will not respect their surroundings.

“Until tonight, I hadn’t found anyone who was against it.”

Council vice-chairman Marc Bayliss reiterated his comments from last month’s meeting that it was the “wrong decision at the wrong time”.

He said: “I don’t believe there’s a case to put the money up this year.

“I think this is a bit of a smokescreen. This debate came from a comment about the potential to introduce capping in future years.

“The secretary of state said he would only introduce it if parish councils acted irresponsibly – and I think this is an example of that.”