THE LEADER of Earley Town Council says a decision not to increase its precept is down to ‘prudent management’, but a Conservative councillor said the ruling Lib Dem group had to be made to see sense before agreeing to the zero rise.
Every year, parish and town councils charge residents a precept for running local-level services.
For the current financial year, this has been set at £83.94 for a Band D household – a 2% increase.
At a budget meeting held on Wednesday, February 7, councillors agree to the freeze.
After the meeting, the leader of Earley Town Council, Cllr David Hare, said he was delighted that the budget had been passed.
“Earley Town Council is not immune to the cost increases that are impacting all of us. Through prudent management since the Lib Dems took control of Earley Town Council and the excellent work by officers, we have managed to achieve a zero increase without cutting services, while also maintaining a bold capital programme,” he said.
Among the investments made in the past year, the town council has installed solar panels and storage batteries, made improvements to community centres, and installed new benches and bus shelters.
There has also been an extension to the cemetery, and new play equipment placed into parks.
Cllr Hare said the work on tackling the climate emergency will continue with a new £400,00 fund to invest in net zero initiatives, and he was looking forward to expanding its support for younger residents.
He continued: “Some years ago the Council was forced to close its Youth Services provision as we lost the building that was used for this when Maiden Erlegh School needed the space back.
“We plan to start this service up again as soon as possible at a different site.
“The new budget contains provision for a bike workshop where our young people will be able to learn mechanic skills and look after their bikes properly. This will be a great local facility along with the existing BMX track which remains very popular.
“We will also be continuing with community events including the very popular Green Fair and Carols by the Lake in our fantastic Nature Reserve.”
But Cllr Norman Jorgensen, who represents Redhatch ward, said some Lib Dem councillors wanted to raise the precept by 2%, as they did last year.
“Their proposal was voted down by a grouping of the Conservative members present along with the Labour councillor and other Liberal Democrats,” he said. “A proposal of a 0% increase was then agreed by a majority as a recommendation to the full Council meeting.
“I am pleased to say that at the full council meeting those Liberal Democrats who had previously voted for a 2% increase saw sense and supported the 0% increase recommendation.”
He added: “In their first budget after taking control of Earley Town Council, the Liberal Democrats increased the Council Tax by more than 10%. This means that in each of the four years since then a considerable amount of additional income has been generated.
“On the whole, this money has not been spent and as a result reserves – money stored in the bank – have been increased to the point where the auditor was advising against any further increase of the general reserve as its value was above what is reasonably required.
“It is the Conservative group’s view that Council financial reserves should be adequate but not excessive so that money is left in Council Tax payer’s pockets rather than languishing in the Council bank accounts, hence we were in favour of a 0% Council Tax increase for Earley Town Council.”
