A TOWN Council has agreed to implement the biggest rise in its share of council tax in a decade.
Spennymoor Town Council will increase its precept by 2.52 per cent for 2018-19 which equates to households in band D properties paying an extra £5.25, or 10p a week, to the authority.
Mayor Ian Machin said the move strikes a balance between the Council’s financial position - including cost increases, the burden of loan repayments inherited by the current administration and work it wants to do- and the impact on residents. He said the council plans to do more on issues raised by residents such as littering, empty properties, dealing with snow and ice in the winter and improvements at Cow Plantation Nature Reserve.
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Cllr Machin said the current administration inherited reserves of £620,000, which dropped to £276,000 after agreed capital spend inherited on play equipment and ear-marking reserves for refurbishment which is below the recommended limit.
It also has to pay £78,000 a year in loan charges until 2022, which includes money that was spent on play equipment which is now being removed, then £44,000 until 2026 because of commitments made by the previous administration.
Cllr Machin said: "This Council is now making progress by listening to residents and communities, and delivering the additionality requested."
But Councillor Ian Geldard, leader of the Labour opposition, said the Council coffers will be boosted by an extra £37,000 because of new housing and £30,000 from Durham Crematorium.
He said the 2.52 per cent rise was unnecessary as it would put an extra £30,600 into the public purse but that Independent councillors have proposed £40,000 of additional spend.
Proposing a zero percent increase, he said: “That’s not increased budget pressure, it is charging residents more money for new projects that this Council are not responsible to undertake.”
The budget will be discussed at a community consultation event at Spennymoor Leisure Centre on Saturday, April 21, from 10am to 2pm.