Details of Midsomer Norton Town Council’s working budget for this year’s Town Fayre on Saturday 11th July have prompted fresh questions over one of the key reasons previously given for bringing community events under the direct control of the Town Council.
In January this year, the Town Council decided not to continue grant funding for Midsomer Norton Community Trust, which had organised the Town Fayre and other community events for more than 12 years. Among the reasons given for the decision was that, by organising the event itself, the Council would be able to recover VAT on eligible expenditure.
The Council’s current Town Fayre budget indicates that recoverable VAT amounts to £226. This equates to a saving of just 2.2% of the whole cost of the event.
Town Clerk Tara Bailey has confirmed that the Council has not kept a record of the staff hours attributed to organising the Town Fayre. Without a recording of the staff time and costs, residents are unable to compare the full cost of the Council-run event with those previously organised by the Community Trust.
The Council’s decision has had consequences beyond the Town Fayre. Following the withdrawal of Council funding, the Community Trust was no longer financially able to continue operating the Somer Centre and Orchard Hall and relinquished responsibility for both facilities. The Trust was also forced to make its full-time manager redundant.
Meanwhile, the Council is currently recruiting for a Property and Assets Manager with a salary of up to £43,000 per year to oversee the Council’s property portfolio, including buildings that were previously managed by the Community Trust.
The figures raise an important question for Midsomer Norton residents: will bringing community events and facilities under direct control of the Town Council ultimately provide better value for money and a better service than the previous arrangements with the Community Trust?
