A FORMER Machynlleth mayor has hit out at the current town council for holding a meeting to discuss the council’s budget and council tax precept behind closed doors.

The town council has agreed a huge 18.7 per cent rise in its share of council tax. Current mayor Tony Jones said the council has been given advice that it needs to have a contingency fund, cover pay increases for staff and replace the council’s computer system.

But Gareth Jones, a former town councillor and mayor, has hit out after a meeting to discuss the budget on 16 January was held in committee by the town council.

He said: “I cannot recall a similar decision during my time as a councillor. Such meetings were quite rightly held in public.

“Ultimately it is the mayor who calls meetings and decides on their status, so why opt to hide the council behind closed doors to discuss the allocation of public funds?

“What is it that was too sensitive and confidential for the ears of the people who would end up footing the bill for such an increase?

“I am afraid that sometimes the mayor and his council need to reflect and remember that they are the town’s servants and we the residents must be treated with respect.

“How respectful is it to exclude us from meetings which heap such a financial burden on so many people and then offer us such mealy-mouthed explanations for their decisions?

“The mayor’s explanation of the precept increase would be laughable if it were not so inept. Is it really a good idea to treat the residents his council should be serving with such contempt.”

The town council did not respond with a comment.­

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