Thatcham council tax to rise

Warning that things could get worse as central government savings affect district and local councils

THATCHAM residents will see a two per rise on their town council tax bill and things could get a lot worse.

Town councillors approved a recommendation on Monday to set Thatcham Town Council’s budget at £670,053 – of which £654,870 will be raised by Thatcham residents – which equates to each band D property paying £74 for town council services.

The town council budget includes provision for events, such as the family fun day, and £8,000 has been set aside for a new council website.

It also includes £17,000 for CCTV in the town, should the town council decide to take on the costs from West Berkshire Council.

In an attempt to save £10.8m the district council consulted on a range of cuts to services.

Now it has been rocked by the news that it may have to make cuts to the scale of £18.9m in the 2016/17 financial year.

This is because the money which central government hands down to the council, the revenue support grant, is being reduced well beyond the 25 per cent reduction it had forecast.

The financial crisis will have a knock-on effect to town and parish councils across the district.

Last year, Thatcham Town Council received a grant of £24,366 but this will be halved to £12,183 for the coming financial year.

And West Berkshire Council has said that it will not be passing on any money to Thatcham in 2017/18.

Speaking at Monday’s meeting, Dominic Boeck (Con, Thatcham South and Crookham) said: “We could anticipate West Berkshire coming back and taking another bite out of this.

“West Berkshire has to find a lot more savings, which I can tell you they have not found, but they must find, to find a balance.

“In case they give us a greater opportunity to find more savings, which comes after we set the budget based on what we have before us, what can we do?”

“Panic,” replied the town clerk, Elaine Hare.

She then explained that the district council would have to relax the deadline for councils to set their precept.

Mr Boeck continued: “I have not been a friend of precept increases since I have been on this council but it’s clear to me the Government is changing the funding model across the country, pushing costs down from central government to local authorities.

“The logical decision for local authorities is to push costs down to the consumer, if you like.

“I see precepts rising and council tax rising across the board.”

Town council leader Richard Crumly (Con, Thatcham Central) said: “I don’t see them withdrawing that or passing savings (laughing sarcastically) on to us.

“I think we have to handle that as and when it happens.”

The town mayor, Sheila Ellison (Con, Thatcham North) said simply: “It could get a lot worse.”

Speaking after the meeting the leader of the town council’s Liberal Democrat opposition, Lee Dillon (Thatcham North) said: “This committee is proposing tax increases on the people of Thatcham but not recommended any savings.”

The budget will go before councillors for approval at a full council meeting tonight (Monday).