3 February 2015

Please note: this news article is in our archive. Articles were correct at time of publication, but should not be relied on for accuracy after the passage of time.

THE Town Council’s portion of the Tax precept will rise by 3% this year, bringing it to £70.75 for a Band D property.

The modest rise –  which equates to an extra 4p a week or £2.04 a year – pays for all the services provided by the Town Council including burials, the maintenance of grounds and open spaces, street furniture, winter gritting,  maintaining the Meridian Hall, planning advice, removing graffiti and flyposting, hanging baskets and civic planting.

The precept also pays for grants to local clubs and community groups, and for public events like the hugely popular free concerts, which this summer will include a party in the High Street to mark the 70th anniversary of VE Day.

The Council tax base has still not returned to pre-2012 levels (when the local council tax support scheme reduced the base) and as Mid Sussex District Council is not passing on the government grant to alleviate this, it means that the shortfall falls on the local taxpayer.

The total charge a Band D resident will pay for Town Council services is £1.36 per week, which is less than the cost of a loaf of bread.