Wisbech councillors discuss council tax precept at latest meeting

Wisbech Town Councillors have managed to not increase their share of council tax for the new financial year of 25/26.

Cllr Peter Human said the resources committee has considered the new budget carefully which will still provide the costs to enable the council to continue to run its services, facilities and activities.

He said: “I am very pleased that the council can continue to do more for the people in town including taking on the operation of the new Wisbech Park Pavilion and St Raphael Community Hall – increasing the number and size of community events and festivals that can be delivered, by not asking the council payers in Wisbech to pay a higher amount of money to this council for the next financial year.

“The draft budget for the financial year requires an increase in the 24/25 precept of £407,110 to £412,060. This results in the Band D precept reducing because of the number of Band D equivalent properties in the town, thus reducing from £61.66 to £61.55.

“It is worth noting that 50% of properties in Wisbech are Band A, and those householders pay a lot less than Band D.

“I am very pleased to be able to present to the council a budget that requires a Band D equivalent precept that equates to a zero increase over the current financial figures.

“I am extremely grateful for the work of the clerk and for members of the resource committee in reducing the budget for the financial year for 25/26 which enables the town council not only to continue to do its services and activities in a cost-effective, efficient and effective manner but expand and increase some of its services and activities while taxpayers of the town pay no more.

Cllr Samantha Hoy was all for the new budget and said: “I think this is a really good budget we have been working on, it is nice to see we are actually providing a small cut to people’s council tax.

“I do think we deliver an awful lot for what we charge to people so it is nice we are not asking people to pay more money.”

Cllr Steve Tierney said he is “proud to be a member of this council”.

He added: “We continually do above and beyond, and year after year we freeze the council tax and sometimes slightly cut it and that is not true of many other councils.

“We manage to do it as we have fantastic councillors who work really hard to deliver this and we put fantastic events on time after time and we take on responsibilities that the public demand.”