The recent Smalltown and Dullbridge Town Council Town Unimprovements (TUMPS) Committee saw Councillors discussing the TUMPS portion of the budget, as SaD TC attempt to work out the increase needed to balance the books in 2024/25.
Last year Smalltown and Dullbridge residents residents had to endure a 7% rise in their Council Tax payments to SaDTC as the BeFuddleds increased the precept from £694,000 to £794,500. Most of the increase was due to the ongoing cost of continuing to try to make a success of the White Elephant Enclosure.
Whilst the TUMPS portion of the precept was only £69,400 in 2023/24, Councilors were asked to consider increasing the share to £79,400.
The TUMPS Committee budget covers such costs as the repair and maintenance of the Smalltown Fountain and the Dullbridge Clock, cleaning bus shelters and emptying dog bins. By far the biggest expenditure is the cost of the Christmas Lights and trees in both towns with the sum of £29,994 allocated for next year.
Although several small savings had been identified across the board, the proposed increase for 2024/25 was largely due to the inclusion of a sum of £24,000 towards adding a further three panels of wall art on Smalltown Sea Front.
Whilst Squire Teflon suggested agreeing the budget in full, ever-conscious that to do so could see the BeFuddled-controlled SaDTC come in for strong criticism for residents, Fun Police Officer Patsy Knickers urged caution, saying “It’s bad enough to see frivolous spending on Christmas and the Festival of Bangs and Flashes, without adding in the cost of art work at a time when people are struggling to feed themselves.”
Chair Jim Rabbithole agreed saying “It’s rather unfortunate, but our Man With The Calculator, Cllr Banish Barracuda, couldn’t be here tonight. His absence makes a decision very difficult, so I propose that we defer this item to the next TUMPS Committee meeting – or even call another Extraordinary-Now-Ordinary meeting.
This will give us more time to sit on our fences, talking and thinking about the matter. You can’t rush these things.”
Despite being out-numbered 4 to 2 by the opposition, one Illiberal broke ranks and voted to agree to defer the decision and Cllr Rabbithole was able to use his casting vote to secure the win.
Squire Teflon was later overheard saying “Drat. My evil plan to make the BeFuddleds look even more stupid than they already do, didn’t work. Never mind, the WEE budget is yet to be decided and I’m sure I can push through a massive increase there, before declaring that the entire budget increase is the fault of the BeFuddleds.“