Give small lpt rebate to local residents groups
The treasurer of a local residents’ association in Navan is urging Meath County council to give a small rebate from the Local Property Tax (LPT) to residents’ associations to help with their work in maintaining estates.
Declan Kettle of the Canterbrook Residents’ Association has written to Deputy Damien English and all the members of Meath County Council urging them to support his proposal.
He is also hoping that other residents’ associations around the area would support his campaign. Mr Kettle pointed out that it is getting harder for his residents’ association, like others, to fund the upkeep and maintenance of the estate.
“There was a grant scheme from the council, but it got smaller. We received €200 two years ago but nothing since,” he said.
“As treasurer of the residents’ association, I go door-to-door collecting money to pay for the cutting of grass and getting insurance.
“We try to collect €50 per household, but out of 199 houses, only 75 or so contribute. There are rented houses, where we don’t get any money, and even those who do contribute cannot always afford to give the full amount.
“We spend €3,000 a year on grass-cutting but the money is getting less and less, we are unable to to fund public liability insurance in order to hold family fun or sports days or any other community events,” said Mr Kettle.
Mr Kettle said it was vitally important to promote and maintain a sense of community within local housing estates and to create a sense of pride not only in the estate but in the wider community.
He said that while other local authorities had voted to reduce property tax, Meath County Council has not. As a result, he said he was calling on the local authority to give a small rebate of around five per cent to residents’ associations.
A spokesperson for Meath County Council said the draft budgetary plan for 2015 provided a funding allocation to each municipal district for housing estates. This funding is subject to the adoption of the statutory budget on 24th November next.