Town budget set to be frozen

The amount households in Bingham will have to pay as part of the town council’s share of council tax is unlikely to rise during the next financial year.

The council’s policy and resources committee has proposed a budget of £250,735 for 2011-12, the same as last year.

This means the council tax paid by band D properties to the town council will remain at £77.70.

Last year, the amount paid by a band D property rose 35% from £57.24.

The committee chairman, Mr Francis Purdue-Horan, said: “Following careful examination of our overall budget, I am very pleased that we are able to recommend to full council on January 11 that we can maintain the council’s services on the current budget plan and there will be no increase in the precept in April 2011.

“If this is approved, the town council’s element of the overall council tax bill to residents from next April will not increase.”

The committee proposed to introduce a new banding system of payments for allotment holders at Hill Drive.

Current charges are £8 for a half-plot and £16 for an allotment. Under the new system it will cost £20 for a plot of 100-150 metres, £25 for a plot 150-200 metres and £30 for a plot of 200 metres or more.

The meeting was told the banding would bring costs in line with the rest of the borough.

It is expected to bring in £700, which would nearly cover the cost of water charges paid by the council for the allotments.

Mrs Maureen Stockwood said: “We at least need to cover what we are spending on water. It is not for the rest of the Bingham population to subsidise what these people have.”

There will also be an increase in cemetery charges because the council felt it was behind with the market price for memorials and monuments.

The increase has been made in all categories to make prices consistent with other charges in the area such as at Newark and Radcliffe.

This will create an estimated profit of around £600, depending on requirement.