Town council opts not to raise tax bill
A town council has decided not to raise its council tax element in the next financial year, saying residents do not need the extra burden.
Market Drayton Town Council will instead dip into its reserves to cover a projected budget shortfall of £33,459.
It means its precept will remain at £124.48 for a band D property. In order to completely cover the deficit, this would have had to increase to £133.01.
Councillor David Minnery said: “The need for an increase is clear but the justification for one less so, when we are not a poor authority.
“I know it’s only a few pounds a year but a lot of people are in a desperate situation in Market Drayton at the moment, because of the impact of the lockdown and being furloughed and a lot of self-employed people being unable to work.
“I think because we don’t have to put the council tax up that we probably shouldn’t, and should just take the £30,000 out of our more than ample reserves.
“I wouldn’t normally do this, I have always been in favour of making sure we keep pace with inflation so that we don’t get big shocks, but I think this year, just as a one-off exception, we ought to just keep the precept as it was and take the balance out of reserves.”
Members unanimously supported the precept freeze.
Town mayor Roy Aldcroft said: “We are one of the few town councils that has been very careful with money up until now which has left us with a certain amount, and I’m sure we can get through the year with reserves.”
The precept will generate an estimated £487,945 of the town council’s projected income of £548,045 for 2021/22, an increase from £540,828 in 20/21.
The agreed budget is £581,504, up from £556,306 this financial year. The increase is mainly down to money set aside by the town council to fund youth services, which Shropshire Council will cease to fund in April, and work to the cemetery.
