Thatcham Town Council approves budget and precept increase

Thatcham Town Council has approved its draft budget for the next fiscal year, as well as a tax increase.

The council proposed to increase the Band D tax base by 13.52 per cent to £125.98 per annum (or 29p a week), from £110.98 per annum, providing a proposed precept of £1,179,921.

There is an expected overspend of £6,801 for the next financial year end, which will be funded from the council’s general fund working balance.

Chairman of the council’s finance and general purposes committee Mike Cole (Lib Dem, Thatcham North East) said: “Despite considerable headwinds we faced this current year, and which we will be facing in the new financial year, I am very pleased to introduce a budget that keeps our finances strong, as well as introducing a range of measures that will improve the services our residents have come to expect.

“We also don’t shy away from the fact that this comes at a cost which can only be met partially from reserves. But not everything can be met from reserves.

“We have a total and indeed increasing commitment to keep our play areas safe, absolutely vital for our younger residents. We will be replacing equipment, as we have done this year, as it ages and becomes non-viable.

“We do face a number of unavoidable pressures; that's in common with every council up and down the land.

“We are going to have to find money to pay for the increased employers' national insurance contributions (from April 2025).

“And although we do not directly employ anyone on the national minimum wage, most of our contractors do and inevitably that is going to push up the costs of the services they provide to us, including the largest one, which is our grounds maintenance contract.”

The council has set aside £10,000 in grant money for local charity organisations to bid for if needed.

It also upping its spending on plants, shrubs and trees by 20 per cent to £6,000 under its street furniture programme (the term used to describe products and equipment in public and outdoor spaces).

The council’s events programme will also be preserved in full.

Jeff Brooks (Lib Dem, Thatcham West) also expressed his support of the proposed budget.

He said: “You have done a splendid job in very difficult circumstances.

“You say we can manage the pressures and invest in some enhancements in our playground, our events, our communication to residents. That's a good place to end up.

“Everybody is grown up enough to know how difficult public finances are. And here we are delivering a budget that invests, improves and protects, and I heartily commend it to this council.”