[06
JUN 00] STRATFORD ON AVON DISTRICT COUNCIL NEWS
Town Centre Manager Could Be Put On Hold
A
new post created to revitalise and manage Stratford town centre could
be in doubt following a change of administration at the District
Council.
The
new Conservative controlling group said that it will
"re-examine" its commitment to the position.
The
Town and District Councils and organisations in the town including the
RSC had got together to pay for the manager.
Similar
positions have been created in other Warwickshire towns including
Leamington, Kenilworth and Warwick, and have proved a success.
But
the Conservative leader Cllr Bob Stephens, who came to power following
the May elections, said the District Council's £10,000 contribution
might not be forthcoming.
The
job has already been advertised and a short-list was being drawn up
for interviews for the £40,000 scheme.
Cllr
Stephens said:
"The
new administration has taken its first significant decision within
days of taking office.
"We
fully support the concept of town centre managers, and hope to work
closely with the Centre Committee to develop the post.
"However,
we promised to look closely at the commitments in the budget we
inherited and to eliminate areas of spending which do not meet the
key requirements of district council tax payers.
"The
town centre manager appointment is one of many commitments which we
will be scrutinising with a view to a final decision being taken
when the Management Committee meets on June 28.
"Initial
indications are that the budget approved in March involves high
revenue spending, topped up by diminishing investment income,
following last year's overall budget deficit.
"We
promised to be prudent and responsible with the District Council's
income and we intend to examine all the budget proposals we have
inherited to fulfil that promise.”
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