Market Drayton Town Council agrees to raise tax precept for first time in a year

At the town council's first meeting of this year, on Thursday night, town councillors decided it would apply to Shropshire Council for a three per cent council tax increase for the next financial year.

The council says that this represents an annual rise of £3.96 on a band D property.

Last year, the council made no increase, and the council's income during the 2024/25 financial year was £620,534, while during 2025/26 it is proposed to be £644,510.

Meanwhile, Market Drayton Town Council's expenditure during the current financial year is stated as £626,530, and expenditure as proposed for 2024/25 is £713,724.

Deputy Mayor, Councillor Tim Manton said: "We think an increase for a Market Drayton resident in a band D property of £3.96 isn't too bad, for the ambitious plans that we have got going forward with our town action plan for the next 12 months and beyond, for the continuation of funding of the youth club, the floral displays, the free Saturday bus service, for putting on events like the the Festival of Lights, providing Christmas lights, and all of the other expenditure for the town council that has gone up quite horrendously. 

"And, bearing in mind that we didn't make any changes to the precept last year. 

 "Albeit it is not something that everybody is going to like, I am a resident of the town myself, but we don't think that is bad considering what is provided and our ambitious plans going forward. It has got to be paid for somehow and unfortunately we all have to dip in and pay for it."

Chair of the finance and general purposes facility, Councillor Roger Hughes said the increase comes with "increased costs and inflation, but we didn't increase the precept last year.

"It is to cover inflation basically," he added. "I hope residents will understand."