Town plans to cut its share of council tax

A town council has bucked a recent trend by announcing it will freeze the amount of tax it asks for.

Shropshire Council and many town and parish councils have said they will ask for increases in April, to pay for rising costs and to take on additional work.

But Bishop's Castle plans to slightly reduce its share of the tax, meaning a Band D property would pay £308.06 in 2026/27, compared to £313.63 in the current financial year.

The town mayor, Josh Dickin, said the council would achieve this by cutting back on grants it awards, but would need to take action in the future because it would soon have no reserves.

He said the council's aim was to protect the money in people's pockets.

In the current year, Bishop's Castle had one of the largest town or parish charges for a Band D property in the Shropshire Council area.

Its £313.63 compares to £87 in Shrewsbury and £205 in Wem, down to zero for some small parishes like Greete and Lydham.

The largest part of council tax bills goes to the county's unitary authority, Shropshire Council, but agencies such as the police also take a share, along with town and parish councils.

A number of these lower-tier authorities, including Shrewsbury, Oswestry and Ludlow, have said they plan to increase their precepts in April, so they can afford to take on jobs currently provided by Shropshire Council.

They include responsibilities such as road sweeping, litter picking and street lighting. Shrewsbury Town Council's charge will virtually double.

Shropshire Council is seeking to pass tasks on to town and parish councils because of the cost, amid a significant financial crisis at the authority.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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