Thatcham Town Council recommends precept increase

Proposed tax increase for townspeople means people living in Band D homes would pay £1.77 more than last year

TAXPAYERS will see a rise in their contributions in April if a recommended precept increase is passed by Thatcham Town Council.

At a meeting on Monday evening, members of the council's budget committee agreed to recommend a precept of £676,938, an increase of £17,631 on last year.

This would mean that the average household (band D) will pay an annual precept of £72.55, £1.77 more than last year.

Last year, the precept was frozen at £659,307 but the council said that certain projects were in need of extra money.

The chairman of the finance and general purposes committee, Owen Jeffery (Lib Dem, Thatcham South and Crookham), said: “The recommendation maintains the important neighbourhood warden service for Thatcham helping to reduce anti-social behaviour.

“It also continues investment in our town's leisure facilities and supports the town's civic events, which help build Thatcham's strong sense of community. “

“These include the immensely popular Family Fun Day, the Christmas lights switch-on event and the Thatcham Festival of the Arts.”

Thatcham mayor Lee Dillon added: “Importantly, this recommended budget will also allow extra cash to go the detached youth workers to allow them have more contact time each week with young people in the town.”

A new treasury plan will also be introduced. The vice-chairman of the committee, Mike Cole (Lib Dem, Thatcham North), said: “Investing the council's reserves more effectively will mean we will earn more income for the council and this can be used to help finance the council's recent decision to reopen the youth club closed by West Berkshire Council.

“In these economic times, councils need to work smarter with residents' money to improve services and this council is doing exactly that.”

The recommendation is due to be considered by the full council on January 30.

Cold Ash residents will see a greater rise in their precept, with the average band D household paying £35.07, £7.64 more than last year.

Last week, Cold Ash Parish Council agreed a precept of £54,500, up from £42,500.

Parish councillor Richard Hudspith said: “It is disappointing is has gone up because of the demands on the budget from external agencies' requests for funding."