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AIBU?

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Original poster

To send this guy his £3.41

47 replies

Anon1993 · 16/01/2019 21:28

So... I sit on the parish council.

We’ve just had a vote on the council tax; the finance officer told us that a small (£3.41 per year) increase was the minimum level not to cut anything.

I voted for this as I didn’t believe that this 28p per month was worth possibly losing staff. After the meeting; an elderly gentleman came up to me; placed his hand on my shoulder and called me “fucking idiot, disgrace”

Would it be knobbish of me to send him a short letter explaining that I believe this increase was important to maintain services in the town; but as he was obviously so steadfast in his opposition; I have sent him his £3.41.

I actually know this would be twatish of me; I just wondere when I became acceptable to speak to people like this!

OP posts:
TinselAndKnickers · 16/01/2019 21:31

What a rude bastard! I’d be tempted to give it in the form of pennies, shoved through his letterbox.

ferntwist · 16/01/2019 21:32

Not acceptable for him to speak to you like that at all, disgusting behaviour. Rather than sending him the money, I’d report him to the group.

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 16/01/2019 21:33

Council tax shouldn’t be raised when services are being cut massively, while
The fat cats pocket huge bonus and have salary increase yearly.

I work in a sector that we directly work with the council sector.

He had no right to be ride, however he has a point.

MrsBrianWarner · 16/01/2019 21:34

I would just get rid of parish councils.

Sales of pearls to clutch would obviously drop quite drastically as a result though.

Grin
Birdsgottafly · 16/01/2019 21:35

It depends on whether you want to end up in the paper. It wouldn't be professional of you.

There's seems to be a want, to supress freedom of speech.

If you are in politics etc in any role, you're going to get people critiquing your decisions

helpmum2003 · 16/01/2019 21:35

An awful way to talk to a volunteer serving the community.

Ignore him, he's not worth it.

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 16/01/2019 21:35

So many autocorrects Blush fatfingers

wowfudge · 16/01/2019 21:35

Did you read the OP Haud? That was the minimum increase not to cut services.

Maelstrop · 16/01/2019 21:36

Ignore him but speak to whoever is in charge re his extreme rudeness.

Original poster
Anon1993 · 16/01/2019 21:36

I agree totally that council tax shouldn’t be raised and services cut. However; this small increase was to maintain services at the existing level.

As a small parish council, I’m not sure we have any fat cats. None of us councillors get any reimbursement for the evenings we spend in meetings or travel we undertake. We do it all as we want to help support our community. I would have told him he was more than welcome to stand against me in the next election, but I just nodded politely. I have policy of not engaging with people who swear at me.

OP posts:
helpmum2003 · 16/01/2019 21:37

@MrsBrianWarner we live in a rural area but we're with a city for council tax. Our PC are very important to us as the decision makers in city don't get the needs of rural areas.

Original poster
Anon1993 · 16/01/2019 21:39

Birdsgotafly:

I know it would u professional of me; so I won’t actually do it. Just being a bit cheeky.

I’m more than happy for him to politely explain why he feels it’s not a good idea and for me to explain why I supported it and see if there’s any common ground and if not to agree to disagree. I’m not happy to be called a fucking idiot disgrace.

OP posts:
ragged · 16/01/2019 21:41

hahahahaha. Do it.

Sarcelle · 16/01/2019 21:41

I wouldn't explain anything. He has been disgustingly rude to you, don't pander to him.

wowfudge · 16/01/2019 21:43

Can you have him barred from attending future PC meetings?

HeddaGarbled · 16/01/2019 21:45

If he’s a fellow councillor, report him. If he’s a parishioner, you need to accept that there will be members of the public who disagree with your decisions and express their disagreement forcefully and sometimes offensively and find a way of not letting that get to you too much.

SuziQ10 · 16/01/2019 21:46

Don't give him another seconds thought.

You made an educated decision that you believed would be the best thing.
He doesn't agree. That's fine. Move on from it.

Bloodyfucksake · 16/01/2019 21:49

Don't do It! If he's that cheeky he'll be happy to get your £3!!!

gottastopeatingchocolate · 16/01/2019 21:52

Send a cheque, but sign it "F. I. Disgrace"!

No, obviously you need to remain professional and ignore. But I can see why you are tempted!

Rudgie47 · 16/01/2019 21:53

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Unescorted · 16/01/2019 21:55

Parish councils provide many services that in non rural areas are provided by the local authority. If you live in a city / town you would expect and get park maintenance, salt gritting on minor roads, street lighting, community activities, grass cutting at junctions, river cleaning, litter picking on main roads, community services - toddler groups, elderly tea mornings, community bus services and the like. If you live in a rural area these services are provided by the parish council ( who are voluntary) and you also pay to have these services paid in the LA.

We threatened to charge these services to the LA and allow us not to charge a precept. In the end our LA reduced our residents council tax by the amount of parish precept. Our residents worked with us and supported taking the LA to court.

He is wrong to call you an fucking idiot disgrace.

Butterymuffin · 16/01/2019 21:56

Send him nothing, he doesn't deserve it. You made a reasoned decision in your capacity as a representative and he verbally abused you. No need for that! Some people are just rude gits.

BirdieInTheHand · 16/01/2019 21:58

I'd send a letter telling him that his comments to you make him a disgrace and as a result he's no longer permitted to attend meetings.

Flyinggeese · 16/01/2019 22:01

OP is there a chance he was stating his (rude!) opinion of the finance officer for their decision? Actually placing his hand on you and directing that comment at you sounds really very confrontational.

Onlyjoinedforthisthread · 16/01/2019 22:02

I honestly think there are too many layers of government in this country and that most parish councillors are nothing but budybodies who authorise spending on crap we don't want or need, sorry.

To give you the benefit of the doubt how big is the parish that 3.41 per household will save a person's job, full time job at that will require a parish of over 5500 households, if your maths is bad as it seems I suggest you shouldn't be a councillor