Complete the survey online – https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/staveleyquestion

In recent months, it’s become clear that Staveley Town Council has effectively run out of money leading to job losses and service cuts.

Unlike a Borough or County Council, where the government would step in and appoint officers to run the Council in situations like this, as the Town Council provides no statutory services, in this case no such mechanism exists.

Chesterfield Borough Council has now provided a £400,000 loan to the Town Council, which the Council is required to repay. The Town Council’s only sources of income are the Council tax precept and revenues raised from its services.

Staveley and Brimington are the only parts of Chesterfield with this additional ‘third’ tier of Council. This is a recognition that Staveley is a distinct town within the Borough rather than simply an area of Chesterfield. Staveley Town Council runs the Staveley Market, the Speedwell rooms, Staveley Hall business facilities, (until recently) Staveley Hall Café and events like the Staveley Arts Festival, Christmas tree and firework display.

Moving forward, it is important that I understand the extent to which you value the services provided by the Town Council themselves, and whether you have a view on the future of the Town Council. I need to establish whether Staveley people value having this third tier of local authority providing specific services that aren’t in other parts of the Borough.

Staveley people pay an extra precept to the rest of Chesterfield, which will be £74.79 a year in 2023/24 for BAND A ratepayers. The repayment of the loan can only be paid by increasing that precept or increasing revenues from services. Without the loan, the Council would have had to increase the precept by 78%.

Every household in Staveley will receive a survey that can be returned via the freepost address provided. Or you can complete the survey online at:

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/staveleyquestion