Town council tax rise to 'take on extra work'

A town council is planning a big tax increase, so it can take on services which used to be provided by the unitary authority.

People living in Broseley, Shropshire, would see the money they pay the town council go up by 19.7% - an additional £3.09 a month for a Band D property.

That would be on top of any tax rise imposed by Shropshire Council, which is seeking to pass on services like litter collection, grass cutting and road sweeping.

Shropshire Council said it had been forced to make big budget cuts to avoid becoming effectively bankrupt and offloading the services would save it millions of pounds.

Shropshire Council also said smaller authorities may be better-placed to manage these services and it has invited town and parish councils to take part in a pilot scheme for the devolution.

Alex Wagner, the deputy leader of Shropshire Council, said something had to change, adding that the financially under-pressure unitary authority did not "have the resources to deliver services as before".

But there have been complaints that taxpayers are being asked to pay a second time for services which they already pay Shropshire Council for.

Last month, a Lib Dem town councillor in Oswestry quit the party over the policy.

Broseley Town Council said it believed the devolution of these services would allow it to respond more quickly to local issues.

In the first year, Shropshire Council will pay two-thirds of the costs, but that will decrease in future years.

The town council said there would be no loss of services as a result of the handover of responsibility.

It said it would continue to maintain open spaces, the cemetery, public toilets, bus shelters, the Birchmeadow Centre, play areas, library and car parks.

Jenna Munday, the town clerk, said: "Most of the increase relates to one-off projects, which will not need repeating.

"As a result, the council expects a much smaller precept increase next year, while continuing to plan for the reduced county council funding."

She described the town council's plans as a "forward-thinking approach that protects essential services and invests in Broseley's future".

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

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