A Market Drayton town councillor has made a formal complaint over the way the 2010/11 precept was decided.
Councillor Janet Smith has written to both the Shropshire Association of Local Councils and the Information Commissioner claiming that details of the council’s income and expenditure were withheld from councillors.
The former mayor was one of three councillors who voted against a precept rise from £403,441 in 2009/10 to £412,825 in 2010/11 at a meeting in January.
The £9,384 increase will add an extra £1.02 onto the average band D council tax.
Councillor Smith said: “I had been asking for relevant information about the council’s actual and predicted income and expenditure for 2009/10 which we’ve always had in previous years when it comes to setting the council’s budget.
“The nature of the complaint was that I hadn’t received this information when I should have during the budget setting season.
“It wasn’t just about me, it was about all the other councillors not having this information and not being allowed to ask questions or make comments.
“I’d never known a situation like it before and it was absolutely ridiculous.”
Councillor Smith said she eventually received the figures almost two weeks after the meeting on January 28 and questioned the “validity” of the precept decision.
A proposal by Councillor Smith for an auditor to assess the way figures relating to the 2010/11 precept were prepared and presented was approved by councillors at a meeting last Thursday.
She said: “Over the last six months, there have been real difficulties within the council which, in my opinion, have basically affected the democratic nature, efficiency and, potentially, the integrity of the organisation.
“A certain section of the council has changed its ethos from one of openness to secrecy and I feel it’s time someone made a stand on it.”
The Information Commissioner is appointed by the Government to protect individuals’ rights to ask for information held by public bodies under the Freedom of Information Act.
Market Drayton mayor Councillor Roy Aldcroft said: “I can confirm that a member of the Town Council has approached the Shropshire Association of Local Councils and the Information Commissioner’s Office in respect of a difference of opinion with the majority of town councillors.
“The issue is one of administration and has more to do with the presentation of information than the content of it which has already consumed many hours of council time.”
