Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge residents could be landed with a 4.95% hike in their council tax bills this April.

A big £20,000 decrease in funding for Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge from Sedgemoor District Council due to central government cutbacks has this week prompted the Town Council to consider the increase.

The hike in bills was debated at a meeting of the Town Council’s Policy and Finance Committee on Monday (January 15th).

“We’ve seen a significant £20,000 hit on the council’s bottom line,” explained Town Clerk Tatiana Cant. “Our precent support grant from Sedgemoor has been reduced to £22,171, down from £42,990 last year.”

Committee Chairman Cllr Mike Facey told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We really are trying to keep council tax bills as low as possible but a small increase in bills is likely.”

“We are not planning to reduce any of our council services in Burnham or Highbridge, or cut jobs due to this reduction in funding.”

Another reason is that the council has earmarked £5,500 towards keeping the local number 67 bus running alongside other parish and town councils.

The recommended 4.95% increase in council tax bills was proposed by Cllr Andy Brewer, seconded by Cllr Peter Clayton, and was unanimously agreed, however a final decision on whether to proceed will be made by the full Town Council in February.

Meanwhile, Somerset County Council said this week its share of the Council Tax bill is likely to increase by a further 5.99 per cent in recognition of increasing pressures and the cost of inflation plus Adult Social Care costs.

 
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