A Herefordshire town has agreed to raise the amount it takes from council tax by nearly 4 per cent to meet rising costs.
The total “precept” that Leominster Town Council will seek from Herefordshire Council, which collects the tax, will go up from April by 3.9 per cent to £598,117, a town council meeting agreed last night (January 24).
This will mean a band D household paying £164.18 to cover the costs of the council’s services in the town – up from £158.02 in the current financial year.
Councillor Jill Murdoch, who prepared the draft budget, said: “We didn’t want to raise it at all, but costs of fuel, electricity and staffing are going up.”
The budget says the town council’s corporate salary bill is forecast to rise from £152,000 in the year to March, to £170,000 for the year from April, while pay for open-spaces staff will go up from £146,000 to £208,000.
Part of the rise is due to the town taking over the Old Priory offices and former mortuary from Herefordshire Council from April. It currently houses the Leominster Food Bank and the Leominster Meeting Centre, which supports those with dementia.
It is to be handed over for £1 for it to remain a community asset, while its running costs “are expected to be mainly covered by rental… it will require a full time caretaker to manage town council buildings and an additional cleaner”, the budget report said.
Meanwhile a 6 per cent salary increase “has been budgeted as a precaution” to cover back pay and a possible rise in nationally-set rates for the year ahead, it added.
A fuel saving has already been made by insulating the roof of town council chambers on Corn Square with wool, which has made “a big difference”, town clerk Julie Debbage said.
Leominster North and Rural ward councillor John Stone said the town “has done what it can to keep the increase as low as possible in difficult circumstances”.
The final council tax amount that Herefordshire households will have to pay, including policing and fire service contributions, will be confirmed at a full Herefordshire Council meeting on March 4.
Work on replacing ageing Victorian water pipe in Monmouth to continue
Designer appointed for redevelopment of Hereford Museum and Art Gallery
Charities calling for clarity on when new base for people with disabilities will be available
Hereford car showroom plan for new SUV brands
‘Improved’ plan to replace turkey sheds with houses near Leominster
Emergency services respond to explosion at BAE Systems Monmouthshire site
Legal challenge launched to prevent demolition of Three Counties Hotel
Number of empty homes in Monmouthshire reduces since council tax premium
