14TH November 2010.

Press Release
The controversy over the Council’s decision to introduce Pay & Display on a
further eight of our free car parks, six of which are in our the rural areas and
villages, in their attempt to raise an extra £30.000 to £35.000 in revenue
highlights how dire the Council’s financial situation is. I, as with many others
feel this could have a detrimental effect on our already fragile local
economies, particularly in the rural villages where the use of the car is a
necessity,

There are no doubts that cuts, savings and the necessity to raise revenue must
be made, if only to ensure Council can continue to maintain the excellent
services it provides across the Island.

It is with this in mind and the fact that some services could be affected
through the Council’s money saving exercise that I believe we should be
looking closer to home before we embark down the road of hitting our
residents again. Therefore, I am suggesting that we as Councillors, the Elected
Members of our society, who are paid substantial allowance to represent the
people at Council, should take a leading roll in this urgent matter.

In doing so, I am suggesting that all Councillors could on their own volition in
line with the Councils Constitution, give up part of their allowances. To make
a real difference, 50% of our Basic and Special Responsibility Allowances,
would generate some £360.700 per annum, at the stroke of the pen, and show
our electorate that were prepared to put more back into our communities other
than mere representation.

That’s some twelve times the amount the Council could raise from their Pay &
Display Scheme before the costs of implementing such a move, without any
further imposition on our People and help encourage the users of our local
shops and businesses to continue to do so.

I do not make this suggestion lightly but when needs must, then we must, or
face even higher consequences later.

County Councillor for Llanbedrgoch

Barrie Durkin.
01248-689182.
Email: barrie.durkin@btinternet.com