Town tax rise approved

3:02pm Wed Jan 25, 2012

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The amount householders in Southwell are expected to contribute to the town through council tax is set to rise, despite concerns being raised.

Southwell Town Council agreed to increase the precept, the money it raises from residents through council tax, by 2%.

For a band D home that would represent a rise from £50.77 to £51.78 for the next financial year.

Across the board, the new levy would raise £150,413 for the council.

Mr Paul Handley, a town councillor and Newark and Sherwood district councillor, said he did not think it was right to raise the precept at this time.

He said: “In today’s climate Southwell householders, like householders round the country, and particularly pensioners, are facing increasing pressures on family budgets.

“I don’t think we should be imposing a tax increase on our residents.”

Mr Handley proposed that the council maintained the same precept as last year for the coming year in recognition of the increased pressures on household budgets.

Mrs Mary Pay supported Mr Handley.

She said: “I wonder what are people in the town going to say. I feel we are going through a really difficult period and as a town council we have got to be doing our bit.”

Mr Norman Mure asked where the extra money would come from if the precept was not raised.

Council clerk Carol Standish said it was possible to take money allocated for the council’s reserves, but the reserves were very near to the minimum recommended level of £75,000.

Mrs Lynn Harris thought the increase of about £1 for the year was worth it as it would help ensure the future of the police in the town.

She said: “I appreciate what Paul and Mary are saying and I have a lot of sympathy with it. I thought this might happen when we reduced the cost of letting the building to the police.

“If we have to put the precept up by just £1 to reduce the letting on the police station and keep the police in Southwell then I think people would agree to it.”