Bridport News
Bridport: Council tax preceptset to go up 11.25%
11:00am Friday 27th January 2012
COUNCIL tax on a Band D property is likely to rise by £13.47 for the Bridport Town Council part of the bill.
Members of the town council’s finances and general purposes agreed an overall 11.25 per cent increase at a recent meeting but the final decision goes to the full council on January 31.
It means an increase of £13.47 up to £132.94 for a Band D property for the coming financial year from £119.47 for the 2011 to 2012 year – 26 pence per week.
Coun David Rickard said: “I’ve never liked council tax.
“But it’s never been the parish precept which broke the camel’s back. It’s always the larger councils.”
Coun Maggie Ray added: “Dorset County Council accounts for 70 per cent of the tax we pay.”
Coun Geoff Ackerman said: “It’s a balanced budget. I don’t think 26p a week is going to hurt anyone.”
The increase leaves the council with a balanced budget including £52,000 to pay for a number of special projects.
These include such land transfers from West Dorset District Council as plots at the football club, Askers Meadows and the Salt House and former toilets at West Bay.
They also include a new footpath and cycleway across Asker Meadows, extra funding for new street lights, redesign of the Borough Gardens and support for the Spirit of Bridport and Queen’s Jubilee.
All councillors voted for an increase except for Coun Julian May who voted against.
He pointed out that many people did not want to see a council tax rise and some people might not actually get any benefit out of the projects.
The committee heard that the council has reserves of about £300,000 although councillors didn’t want to use this money to peg the council tax.
Coun Karl Wallace said that West Dorset District Council had reserves of £50million and that Dorset County Council may be forced to put up council tax the year after next.
Fees and charges for the rent of rooms and facilities at the refurbished town hall will remain the same.
More News stories
- VICAR MURDER: Family's devastation at death of John Suddards
- VICAR MURDER: Reverend Andrew Evans' sleepless night
- Lyme Regis: New director is appointed at museum
- Lyme Regis: Councillors unsuccessfully argue against new supervisor
- County: Warning issued over letters scam
- Lyme Regis: Woodroffe students go on a trip to London
- Bridport: Dodger the cat is put down
- Lyme Regis: Parts of school to get £700k facelift
- Lyme Regis: 3,000 tons dredged from harbour
- Bridport: Town Council achieves 'quality' status