Town councils to freeze precepts

TOWN councils are fighting the credit crunch by freezing precepts for 2009.

In a bid to keep bills down for locals, councillors are doing their best to stop any rise in the local charge paid as part of the council tax.

The precept, as it is known, has been frozen in Broughton, with the town council saying it wanted to help people hit by the economic downturn.

Broughton town mayor John Tweedie said: "We are keeping the precept the same as last year because of the financial crisis.

"It was felt that everyone was going to have a very tight year this year and the council will do its utmost to ensure that we provide the same service as we have done in the past at a reduced cost.

"All councils hold reserves and we have decided we would rather use some reserves than burden the people.

"At this time when people are losing jobs and that sort of thing, we are all finding it hard.

"We felt that we would do our best to help and we are going to do it in this way."

Bottesford has followed suit with the freeze and Crowle Town Council is also working to hold its charges, although it still has a lot of project work to be precepted.

Town councillors in Barton-upon-Humber will finalise their charges after a meeting in February.

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