THE budget and precept for the year 2019/20 was discussed during the full town council meeting of Holsworthy Town Council on Wednesday, January 16.

The town council will be levying a precept of £149,830 in the coming financial year to pay for the ongoing running costs of the town council — a £23,610 increase on last year’s figure.

The precept is collected on the town council’s behalf by Torridge District Council and represents an increase of 33 pence per week for a person paying the full Council Tax charge on a Band D property compared to last year. However, 77% of the properties in the town fall in into Council Tax bands A to C and will therefore be paying less than this.

Holsworthy Town Council own and manage most of the recreational green spaces as well as five public footpaths in the town. The council also run and organise a number of community events throughout the year. Its budgeted expenditure is in excess of £188,160 for 2019/20 versus an estimated income of £38,330.

Councillors felt that in the context of ‘very real threats to some of the frontline services’ which are maintained by the district and county councils in the town — for example emptying of waste and dog waste bins, toilets, counter service, grass cutting, highways maintenance etc. — it was imperative to levy a realistic precept.

The town council also no longer receives the Council Tax Support Grant paid by Torridge District Council to parishes, which would have reduced the cost of the precept.

The local precept covers the upkeep of Stanhope Park along with Badock and Rowland Gardens, as well as the management of the weekly Pannier Market, and events throughout the town including the very successful Christmas Switch-on event.

The mayor Cllr Jon Hutchings said: “During 2018/19 the council has been involved in many projects throughout the town such as extending the CCTV within the town and Stanhope Park and also sought to source external funding as much as possible including the successful funding bid that helped to enable the various WWI 100 Years Commemorative projects in the town including the Memorial Tree Trail.

“In 2019/20 funding for projects will be pursued that will further improve the facilities in the town including progressing the purchase, refurbishment and reopening of Coles Mill Viaduct.

“Other projects to be pursued in 2019/20 include improving the appearance of the town centre and replacing street furniture, renewing some of the paths within the Park and the continuance of working with partners including the Holsworthy Engagement Group to re-open beds in Holsworthy Community Hospital and find a bespoke solution regarding health and well being in the area.”

Town clerk and responsible financial officer Vanessa Saunders said: “In setting the council’s budget for the financial year ahead, the town council has kept expenditure down to a minimum and endeavoured to make as many savings as it can within the town budget. Councillors will continue to weigh up the cost of any expenditure against the benefit to the community.”

Cllr Ken Watson proposed the council accept the precept, Cllr Mick Stanton seconded. The council voted unanimously to accept the precept.

Cllr Hutchings added: “Isn’t it funny that our town’s precept was proposed by two people who don’t even live in Holsworthy — in fact I think only two of us actually live in the town, the rest of you live in the surrounding villages don’t you?”

Two of the nine councillors present at the meeting live in the town.