Radstock’s precept is set to increase when it comes to the 2022/23 budget by 1.5% – but residents had a reprieve from the maximum 3% proposal, with Councillors aware of soaring costs on the horizon.

The decision was unanimous voted through, with Cllr Chris Dando explaining that the rise would mean an annual increase of £2.31 or 19.25p per month for a Band D equivalent property and that most properties in this area were actually graded A–C.

Addressing fellow Town Councillors, he said: “We know that there has been significant increases in inflation, energy costs – we know gas prices could soar.

“On the basis that expenses are going up across the board, it is likely that B&NES Council will increase its Council Tax by the maximum allowed by legislation, the Police are planning to put theirs up and I expect the fire service to do the same.

“We have to make choices as a Council to look at ear-marked reserves, potentially for Council expenditure. I think the committee was relatively comfortable that we could explore grants, CIL funding or use reserves for contingencies.”

Cllr Bruce Shearn seconded the 1.5% increase proposal as opposed to a 3% rise. He said: “I think we are heading in to a very difficult time in 2022/23 and anything we can do to keep bills down for people, we should. We will be trying, as a Council, to do as much as we possibly can with our reserves, but it is not the right time to ask people to delve deeper in to their pockets.”