COUNCIL Taxpayers in the Bude area face a rise of just under 1 per cent after the Town Council set its rate

precept for the coming financial year. The requirements of Cornwall Council and the devon and Cornwall Police Authority must be added to give the final bottom line figure.

At its recent annual budget meeting Bude-Stratton Town Council considered the setting of its precept for the 2010/2011 financial year.

In 2009/2010, the precept was set at £622,080 and for 2010/2011 the precept has now been agreed at £628,342 a rise of £6,262 which equates to an increase of just under 1 per cent on the previous year's precept.

The town council wished to keep any changes to the precept to a minimum but due to external factors (increases in fuel costs, energy costs, materials, insurance etc) it has been necessary to increase the precept slightly and it was felt that this should be restricted to an inflationary rise.

The remainder of monies required to fund the activities in which the town council engages —which include grass cutting, horticultural displays, Parkhouse Centre, Castle, Poughill Cemetery, Bencoolen and Poughill Play Areas — will be met from the income generated from its operational activities.

During 2010/2011 the council and its six committees will be working on various projects which will include the surfacing and landscaping of the car park to the rear of the Parkhouse Centre; the digitisation of a large number of slides and photographs in the archive collection; the replacement of the chairs (over 300 in all) in the Ivor Potter Hall (Parkhouse Centre); the replacement of some windows in the Parkhouse Centre and the replacement of the tractor used by the council's team of outdoor staff.

During the coming year, the town council will again organise and support Stratton Commemoration Weekend, Bude in Bloom and Bude Canal and Gurney Day – which will henceforth be known as Bude & Stratton Heritage Day.

A sum of money has also been set aside to support local groups and organisations within the Bude, Stratton and Poughill area during the coming financial year.

If your group or organisation would like to apply for a small grant then please contact the Town Clerk at The Parkhouse Centre, Bude EX23 8LD