Town's bill to rise (From Penarth Times)

Town's bill to rise

PENARTH people face an average rise of 90p to pay for the services they get from the town council.

The local element of the council tax bill will go up by 2.5 percent for an average Band D property this year.

Penarth Town Council's Policy and Finance Committee approved the rise at a special meeting.

The Vale of Glamorgan Council is due to increase its bill by 8.9 percent. The town council's expenditure programme for the year was estimated at £362,504, which, if fully funded by council tax, could have meant a rise of 12.2 percent.

But councillors decided to take £25,000 from the authority's general funds and also save an additional £5,600 by cutting back on the expenditure programme.

This £5,600 saving will be a result of cutting back on budgets for community projects by £1,000, public seating by £1,000 and external lighting for the Kymin by £3,600.

These savings will bring the total amount to be funded by council tax down to £331,904, resulting a 2.5 percent rise for Band D, This means that Band D house owners will now pay £36.73 per year, an increase of 90p on last year.

Festivities

Tax is used for council expenditure including maintaining the cemetery, the Paget Rooms and the Kymin, the Holiday Festival and Christmas festivities.

It also pays for flower baskets in the town centre, and Christmas lights.