WESTBURY Town Council has agreed that from April there will be a 16.88% increase of the town’s precept, due to the increase of services being taken over from Wiltshire Council.
The increase in the precept, the tax which is levied on local residents in the area covered by the town council, is due to assets and services transferring from Wiltshire Council to town and parish councils across Wiltshire. As a result, there is an increase in running costs associated with these services and staff resources.
The council has agreed to raise its precept to an additional £16 per annum for a band D house. Band D properties are used as a measure of the national average, and some houses will see a bigger or smaller increase.
The precept is proposed as £629,552 which is a 16.88% increase from last year. This sees a band D house set to pay a precept of £129.58. Due to the increase of households in Westbury and therefore more contribution, this sees a 14.09% increase from last year.
At the town council meeting on Monday 8th January, cllr Ward Jones said, “I hope that people will look at the figures and not look at the percentages, but look at the actual cost and the actual cost for Band D is an increase of £16 per annum, £129.58. I think that with the services being provided, if you look at our figures compared to other towns, people in Westbury have a jolly good deal.”
All councillors were unanimous in the decision to pass the increased precept. In addition, the town council has agreed to fund two hours’ free car parking in all of Westbury town centre car parks for a further year.
