Neston Town Council Precept

Nationally the council have all been hit by Covid-19 and like so many other Parish Councils, it has been a difficult year for Neston Town Council.

The regular income the Council relies on has been drastically reduced. To help mitigate this, we have reduced costs and made adjustments throughout the year and carefully monitored our budgets. This resulted in a small shortfall in budget spending. However, income is unlikely to return to previous levels before the autumn and therefore a cautious assessment has been made when Council has looked at what the 2021/2022 financial position might be.

At its Council meeting Neston Town Council considered the recommendation and report put forward to request for an overall increased precept amount of 3% equating to 3.8% or £1.74 per year for band D residents. The yearly increase for band’s A to C represents 60.4% of Neston residents, with ranges from £1.16 for bands A-D representing 75% of properties. Neston Town Council’s spending proposals for the coming year exclude Cheshire West and Chester Council’s council tax charge and the police and fire service precepts. The Town Council agreed to levy a precept of £278,184. This amounts to £47.56 per year for the average (Band D) households.

The band D tax base, the number advised by Cheshire West and Chester Council, has reduced which means more people are claiming council tax reduction support and this directly affected the Town Council’s precept calculation. Although other councils have differing responsibilities and costs, it should be noted that Neston has one of the lowest precept levels in Cheshire.

The Town Council is extremely proud of its grants programme and has continued to support local organisations throughout this time where possible; Little Actors, various socially distanced courses and meet ups; Neston Air Cadets, funding for essential equipment replacement; Wirral Way Junior Park Run, funds to provide an auto external defibrillator and our local Cyber Centre with PPE equipment. In addition to this and to help lift residents’ spirits at Christmas in this dark time, an investment of money was put towards assisting Hip and Harmony to implement ‘Neston Winter Wonderland’ which we hope you all enjoyed.

Further information:

Alison Kunaj, Council Manager, Neston Town Council, Town Hall, High Street, Neston CH64 9TR

0151 336 3840

council@nestontowncouncil.org.uk neston.org.uk Twitter @Neston TC