Archive - Friday, 11 January 2002


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Council tax rise

BOURTON-on-the-Water residents face a £6,800 rise in the portion of the council tax they annually pay to their parish council.

A Bourton-on-the-Water Parish Council meeting unanimously agreed to increase its part of the council tax from £29,200 to £36,000.

The full increase in Bourton's 2002/2003 annual council tax bill will not be known until the increases in the portions paid to Cotswold District Council, Gloucestershire County Council and Gloucestershire Constabulary are announced.

Proposing the parish's increase, Councillor John Wright told the meeting it would mean the amount of council tax the average Band D household pays to the parish council would rise from £21 to £25.50.

He said Bourton parish's portion of the council tax bill, raised last year for the first time since 1995, was still lower than neighbouring parishes.

Cllr Wright said the rise was needed because the parish council's financial resources would fall by £70,000 this year because of various items of expenditure, including £25,000 on Bourton's new leisure centre, £15,000 on the village football club's sports facilities, £13,000 on the cemetery and £6,000 on the Naight playing field.

He said: "To be prudent, we've got to do this. It isn't being greedy. It ensures that we do have money.

"It would be wrong to apply too much now but next year, if we are adrift, we could put it up accordingly."

Residents in Highworth will be paying slightly more for their town council services this year.

Councillors have increased the parish precept by £4,000, taking it to £167,000.

Last year's average Band D council tax was £54.80.

Town clerk David Lane was unable to calculate this year's figure, but he said it wouldn't be a significant increase.

The council has no major projects in the pipeline for the coming 12-months.

"Most projects were completed last year so we haven't really got any coming up," he said.

"The money will be going towards maintenance and running council services."