Islanders won’t be protesting over the council tax rise made on Tuesday.
Gordon Bilsborough who told Scilly News last week of his anger over the impending rise says that he felt Scillonians were just happy that the rise wasn’t in double figures.
This came after last years 25% increase.
Islanders turned up to the public meeting last week to discuss the rise.
But Mr Bilsborough, from St Mary’s, told Scilly News that he still wasn’t happy about the council’s actions:
“I believe that the increase could have been kept down to just under five percent. I think if the rise had been ten per cent they would have been a revolt but they have just about struck a balance so that will be avoided.”
He said the Councillors were “obsessed” by the seven point five per cent figure and were determined to keep it.
“I think they could quite easily find a 0.4% from their reserves from a budget of nearly ?4 million but they chose not to.”
“Every year the council tax is taking a greater part of islanders income, especially pensioners. But they seem to forget that.”
“They ought to remember that the represent the public not the government.”
Councillor Marian Bennett agreed with Mr Bilsborough. She told Scilly News that she thinks that councillors were being cautious:
? They were overly concerned because government grants haven’t come in yet. Five of us voted against the 7.5% increase and 10 for.?
‘I think we need to remember that Scillonians are contending with high costs of living and low wages.?