True cost of Salisbury’s Parish Poll revealed.

The Parish Poll run late in April following the council tax precept increase cost nearly £40,000 to administer.

The poll drew a small turnout of 1202 from the approximately 30,000 eligible voters.

The poll was not legally binding and was held to gauge people’s opinion. It asked if they would support a five per cent cap on future increases to the Salisbury City Council precept and a parish consultation if any proposed increase is larger than five per cent.

The total cost of running the poll has now been revealed to be £39,627.57. The cost per participant in the poll was nearly £33 per vote cast.

This money must be paid from the Salisbury City Council’s funds, something not initially budgeted for.

Cllr Victoria Charleston, the Liberal Democrat Administration Group Leader, found the costs ‘Astonishing’. She told Salisbury Radio, “Whilst public engagement should always be a priority, the Parish Poll, orchestrated by Conservative Councillors and a handful of residents, cost an astonishing £33 per voter.

“Some hard choices will now have to be made about how the City Council pays for this bill and what we cannot do as funds will need to be diverted – which is ironic given this was all about management of budgets.

“I have already written to the Leader of the Conservative group to ask for her thoughts on how we fund her poll and to remind her of the process for contributing to the City Council’s budget in a way that provides best service to the precept payer.”

Cllr Eleanor Wills, the leader of the Conservatives on the City Council, defended the poll and its cost. “Go to any council meeting in the Guildhall and, on a very good day, ten people will be in the public gallery. Why? People are fed up with politicians, fed up with the system and fed up with feeling like the people they elected never actually work for them. To see over 1000 residents come out and have their say about the pounds in their pocket, the future of their council tax is a milestone moment for Salisbury.

“Of course, the other parties will criticise the cost, but they did not even promote the parish poll. The majority of administration councillors never even talked about it on their social media, never attended the parish meetings and certainly did not put a leaflet out. In St Paul’s Ward, for example, where all three councillors are Liberal Democrat, the coverage was next to nothing. Why should residents go out and vote if they’re being disincentivised in the first place by the people they elected to represent them?

“I hope lessons are learned, and efficiencies can be found before further referendums are held in Salisbury. We expect the administration to announce their Neighbourhood Development Plan referendum before the end of their term. My message is this: you cannot pick and choose to support the referendums you like, and you cannot ignore the concerns of residents. We are elected to serve.”

The conduct of the poll was the responsibility of the Returning Officer at Wiltshire Council.