Fall in rates income leaving council budget on a 'knife-edge"

Static rates income was leaving Kells Town Council"s budget 'on a knife-edge', Area Manager Brendan McGrath told last Monday night"s meeting where he outlined how it spent its €2.4 million last year. Rates income last year was €526,000, just over one-sixth the Navan figure but Kells ran a deficit of €85,000 which was 'not that bad'. He noted the local government fund of €528,000 while the internal housing receipts of almost €2.4 million was being reinvested to upgrade the 43 housing units (excluding Headfort Grove), for which he would have a report for the September meeting. Rates collection stood at 91 per cent last year, while rents and annuities from tenants was also high. There was end-of-year arrears of €30,000 'mostly a small number of cases which have been positively dealt with and arrangements made, following the assistance of MABS and the People"s Resource Centre'. Past wage settlements had pushed up costs last year and the council was still in negotiations with the Department of Environment. A 'huge proportion' of the council income came from paid parking but he welcomed the new rates income from businesses in the Bective Square area this year. Kells had not been helped by its stagnating rates base but the new income would give it added buoyancy. The Loyd Business Park had proven 'cost neutral' to date through the council practice of funding infrastructure there through the sale of sites, added Mr McGrath. But the post-2009 town council would receive a 'hefty contribution' of a 'very good seven-figure sum' which would go on badly needed facilities in Kells. The manager told Cllr Seán Drew the council"s €1 million bank investments had to be ring-fenced to co-fund works on the new sewerage scheme. 'There"s no pot of gold there to rescue November [the estimates meeting],' he added. The councillor urged more prosecutions from the litter warden service, which cost €27,500 and welcomed next month"s meeting on the Heritage Centre, which recorded a €42,000 over-spend last year. Mr McGrath said the provision of a suction sweeper was currently being investigated. Cllr Peter Caffrey expressed disappointment with the €47,000 receipts from Loyd farm which the manager conceded was not as much as expected. The council might have to consider allotments there in a general review of how best to use the land.