Malton councillor steps down over reserves (From Gazette & Herald)

Coun Ann Hopkinson steps down over reserves

11:06am Wednesday 3rd October 2012 in News

COUN Ann Hopkinson has resigned as chairman of Malton Town Council’s finance committee because she is concerned that its reserves are “going down and down” and she was not prepared to see that continue.

She told a meeting of the town council: “Other councils are trying to build up their reserves and I am upset about ours going down and I feel the reserves will go down again this year.”

But the mayor, Coun Jason Fitzgerald-Smith said: “We are making an effort to build up the reserves,” adding that the town council was putting funds into helping various community events.

Members agreed by a majority to provide £50 to the Ryedale District Council’s chairman’s charity, £750 to Malton & Norton Old People’s Party Committee, £500 to the Malton Museum Foundation, £800 to Ryedale Citizens Advice Bureau and £300 to Ryedale Book Festival but it turned down a request from Ryedale Community Transport.

In a seperate vote, the council agreed to provide a £2,000 grant to the Christmas Lights Committee – an increase of £500 on last year.