Keighley Town Council rejects precept hike (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Keighley Town Council rejects precept hike

10:20am Monday 6th February 2012 in Keighley

Councillors have voted against proposals to hike council tax for residents in Keighley.

Keighley Town Council’s management and staffing committee recommended a 2.5 per cent increase in the precept, noting additional cash was needed for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, events to mark the arrival of the Olympic torch and for improving allotment security. However, councillors at the authority's’s monthly meeting last Thursday rejected the proposed increase.

Councillor Margaret Ward, who put forward the management and staffing amendment calling for a rise, said: “The district council is going to be squeezed and this council may be called upon to take up some of the slack. It would be too much to rely on our dwindling reserves.”

She warned the town council had already agreed a precept freeze for the previous financial year, so doing so again could mean it would be forced to raise the precept substantially in future..

However, Coun Ron Beale said: “We should be looking at reducing every committee budget by 20 per cent and reducing the mayor’s allowance too. To put up the precept would be unethical.”

Finance committee chairman Coun John Philip said the town council did not need a higher precept, pointing out Bradford Council had refunded it £10,000 worth of overpaid rental charges.

He said: “We’ve been sensible. The 2.5 per cent isn’t needed.”

Councillors voted 12 to 10 against the proposed precept rise.