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Neston Town Council Share the Council Tax Precept for 2024/25
| Published: 7th February 2024 21:41 |
The percentage increase is smaller than last year and equates to less than twenty-four pence per week for a typical Band D property.
Doormats and inboxes across Neston will soon be welcoming 2024/25 Council Tax bills. Neston Town Council would like to share with residents the background reasoning to justify a twenty percent increase in their precept.
They explain: "As the UK felt the effects of storm Jocelyn, the second storm in as many days, Neston Town Councillors met at the Full Council meeting on Tuesday 23rd January 2024, in order to finalise the budget for the coming financial year. Councillors engaged in a lively debate, following recommendations and requests from the Council's various committees: Market & Town Hall, Community & Environment and Finance & Administration.
"At the Full Council meeting, the majority of councillors present voted for a 20% increase to Neston Town Council's precept for 2024/25, which is 4.7% less than last year. 75% of the properties within Neston are rated as a Band D or lower. Households who benefit from Council Tax relief do not pay this precept. In the coming year, Neston Town Council will focus on its broader strategic objectives. This is addition to meeting the current challenges posed by general rising costs. The small increase of less than 24p per week for a Band D property will enable the Town Council to progress its strategic priorities including: supporting the improvement of health and wellbeing, protecting and enhancing the local environment, public spaces and heritage, and supporting the development of arts, culture, and events within the town.
"Neston Town Council provides Christmas lighting for the Town Centre and Parkgate, and options are being investigated to pave the way for improvements in 2024. The Town Council has budgeted to make improvements to allotment sites. Neston Town Council remains committed to supporting community projects and events through its Grant Scheme, with a combined budget for these activities totalling £18,000 for 2024/25. Financial support will also be offered to the community through the Council's donations programme to enable popular events in the town to continue.
"Neston Market's updated charging schedule will see nominal rises to pitch fees for traders taking effect from 1st April this year. The Market's promotions budget has been increased as the Town Council recognises that the Friday Market is one of the town's best assets. Neston Town Council officers continue to work closely with their Cheshire West & Chester Council colleagues in order to keep the Town Hall premises in good working order and to lobby for improvements and repairs as required.
"The Joint Panel on Accountability and Governance (JPAG) is the body responsible for issuing proper practices about the governance and accounts of smaller authorities. As with any financial entity; it is essential that local authorities have sufficient reserves (both general and ear-marked) to finance both day-to-day operations and future plans. A Council of Neston's size should plan towards holding the equivalent of three months net revenue expenditure in reserves. Following a steady depletion over the last two years, councillors voted in favour of topping up the General Reserves through the precept to ensure the Council remains within the recommended zone. This will help to alleviate additional fiscal pressure on the coming year's budget by spreading the £35,000 shortfall over the next three years, without over-stretching rate-payers to achieve this in only one year. Neston Town Council takes future financial planning seriously and the Council is committed to building up its finances."
Credit: Bernard Rose Photography
Neston Town Councillors work on a voluntary basis, including Mayor of Neston Councillor Steve Wastell, who attends community events and networking opportunities, profiling our historic market town. Steve, notes: "I am pleased to represent our town and I would like to thank my fellow councillors for their commitment to driving Neston forward. Neston Town Council is committed to creating a sustainable market town with a vibrant centre for Neston, its residents, businesses and visitors by fostering a strong community spirit. In order to continue accomplishing the objectives set within the Council's Delivery Plan."
Locum Chief Officer, Zoe Dean, concludes: "Neston Town Council is looking forward continuing its work within the community and helping to support a town its residents can be proud of."
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Comments
Dennis L
Scott MoreinScrap this money grabbing, money wasting nonsense please.
Every year this cabal steals the equivalent of a week or mores worth of groceries from every household in Neston and spends it on vanity projects. Raises £500k and spends the lions share of it on salaries and related costs for those with job titles that mean nothing and achieve even less. The three assets under Neston Town Council control are the Town Hall, The Market place and the allotments – all of which are self funding from the users fees.
Grumpy.Old.GitColliery Lgrannie8The people of Neston and it’s areas are entitled to know why we have to pay even more money after having paid the large increases we are paying year on year to Cheshire and Chester West.I would also like to know if because we have a local council is the reason we get very little from the money we pay to Cheshire and etc.When they send emails saying we are upgrading/repairing or whatever Neston is hardly ever mentioned as being part of it.
As for the comment that the people on council tax relief won’t have to pay the extra how kind do they not realise that people on council tax relief are on it because they don’t have the income to pay any more the strain on their budgets are hard enough.I am very fortunate not to be in that position.I still think we were better off when we were on our own not under a very expensive umbrella.
Robin HThe evidence for change is in the Town Council's continued inability to stand up this kind of strategic operation despite good intentions. Witness failure to seize the opportunities created by the 2016 Neighbourhood Plan (of which I was part). Look at Brook Street. Witness an economic development plan that went nowhere. Witness the failure to implement the proposals in its more recent 'strategic plan' which, in any case, largely copied the Neighbourhood Plan. Taken together the Town Council has spent tens of thousands of pounds on consultancies for this work plus hundreds of hours of volunteer time. With what result?
I had rather hoped that things would improve after the previous long-standing 'manager' left, there are some good people there capable of a broader vision, but it seems just as stuck as ever. Neston needs a fresh approach and I would like to see the Partnership idea revisited.
In any case, whatever else it may deliver, and I acknowledge the energy and commitment of staff and volunteers, my personal view has been, and remains, that it is not necessary to have a third tier of local government, with the bureaucracy that comes with it, in order to run allotments, a market and a building. Witness NCYC taking on the Civic Hall. They could be floated off. Nor to maintain planters or run a website or put up Christmas lights or hand out grants. There are other ways.
These facts, and the problems the Town Council has attracting and retaining competent and committed candidates for election, suggests a low level of community support, and that alternatives should be considered.
Robin HThe evidence for change is in the Town Council's continued inability to stand up this kind of strategic operation despite good intentions. Witness failure to seize the opportunities created by the 2016 Neighbourhood Plan (of which I was part). Look at Brook Street. Witness an economic development plan that went nowhere. Witness the failure to implement the proposals in its more recent 'strategic plan' which, in any case, largely copied the Neighbourhood Plan. Taken together the Town Council has spent tens of thousands of pounds on consultancies for this work plus hundreds of hours of volunteer time. With what result?
I had rather hoped that things would improve after the previous long-standing 'manager' left, there are some good people there capable of a broader vision, but it seems just as stuck as ever. Neston needs a fresh approach and I would like to see the Partnership idea revisited.
In any case, whatever else it may deliver, and I acknowledge the energy and commitment of staff and volunteers, my personal view has been, and remains, that it is not necessary to have a third tier of local government, with the bureaucracy that comes with it, in order to run allotments, a market and a building. Witness NCYC taking on the Civic Hall. They could be floated off. Nor to maintain planters or run a website or put up Christmas lights or hand out grants. There are other ways.
These facts, and the problems the Town Council has attracting and retaining competent and committed candidates for election, suggests a low level of community support, and that alternatives should be considered.
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