Midsomer Norton Town Council has voted to increase its 2017/18 precept by 1.9%, which will mean a £1.67 increase per Band D property over the year.

Councillors looked at four options put before them by the Finance Working Party, which included maintaining the current Band D rate at £87.88 per annum, but this would not provide enough funds to cover the net budgeted expenditure; setting a neutral net budget and net income level, which would require an increase of 0.46%, exactly covering the projected budget but leaving no room for manoeuvre; option three, to increase by 1.9%, which will provide the Council with an increase in capital funds by just over £4,000 to help support plans to provide additional community facilities, or option four, to replace the Local Council Tax Support Scheme, which has been slashed by 50%.

Last year, B&NES passed on £25,620, but due to Government cuts, this is now £12,810, and will eventually be withdrawn completely.

Option four would have meant an increase by 3.7%, from £87.88 to £91.27 p.a. on Band D, bringing in an extra £11,000 for the Town Council.

Councillors debated the four proposals, settling on the 1.9% increase to help budget for a projected rise in costs and to help deliver plans, should unforseen circumstances arise. The Town Clerk reminded Councillors that whilst the Government had so far abandoned its proposals for a local referendum should a precept be raised by 2% or more (the cost of such a referendum would wipe out the benefit of raising the precept by this amount), that it could still be a possibility in future and any such rise would need to have a specific reason behind it.

Cllr Steve Plumley called option three “an effective compromise” and praised officers for the proposed budget amounts, which are less than last year’s – £346,411 against £354,321, representing a reduction in planned expenditure of just over 1%.

Mayor of Midsomer Norton, Paul Myers, said: “When we began as a Town Council, we had few commitments and the same amount of expenditure – our budget is managed extremely carefully. Looking after the money is what is crucial to forge ahead and achieve things for local people.”