A PETITION carrying the names of almost 1000 parishioners in Sutton opposed to a 27.8 per cent increase in the parish council’s precept was presented to MP Stephen Barclay.
Residents joined local councillors on Friday to present the petition to Mr Barclay at his constituency office in Chatteris, before it is handed on to Local Government Minister Eric Pickles.
Villagers Gitta Evans and Chris Drury, who helped organise the petition, will also be presenting it to the chairman of Sutton Parish Council at the authority’s annual meeting, held tonight (April 21) at 7.30pm.
Mrs Evans said: “Stephen spent about an hour with us and was supportive of our cause and the concerns that were raised.”
Mrs Evans also said that a new website had been launched for villagers to share their concerns and thoughts, www.suttonvoice.org.
The decision to increase the parish precept by 27.8 per cent was taken in January, taking Sutton’s total precept to �166,500, the third largest in the district.
Although tax increases at district and county level are capped by the Government, parish councils do not have a ceiling.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here