PARISH councillors in the Worth Valley have agreed to increase their precept for the 2015/16 financial year.

At their latest meeting, members of Haworth, Cross Roads and Stanbury Parish Council unanimously voted in favour of a 2.5 per cent precept rise.

Councillor Peter Hill said this amounted to a budget of £43,912 and a precept of £20.50 on benchmark band D properties.

Coun Hill said: “We had a long discussion on the budget, and we’ve increased the amount of money we will give as grants from £9,200 to £10,800.

“This will enable us to give really deserving causes a larger grant. That extra 50p on band D properties will be able to go towards real services for the community.”

Supporting the budget, Cllr Gary Swallow said: “I think this modest increase will give us the flexibility to put seed money into new organisations, such as the Friends of Cross Roads Park for example.”