OKEHAMPTON Town Council will raise its precept — the amount of money it receives from council tax — by 3.9% over last year.

The council has agreed to increase its precept to £218,365, compared to last year’s £210,179. The increase was agreed by a clear majority, with one member voting against the proposal.

Town clerk Paul Snell said: ‘The council considered the level of the increase over a number of meetings before concluding that the reduction in Council Tax Support Grant from central government, the additional costs of employment imposed by introduction of the national living wage and changes to the employers’ national insurance structure, together with the need to provide for the possible additional responsibilities of running facilities currently maintained by the borough council, fully justified the increase, which equates to 14 pence per week for a Band D equivalent household over last year.

‘The effect on the Okehampton Town Parish council tax payer will be an overall increase of £7.18 in the year, half of this amount due to corrections to West Devon Borough Council’s tax base – over which the town has no control.

‘Councillors will be available to answer questions on the precept and the town council’s budget at the annual town assembly which this year will take place on Monday, March 21 at 7pm in the Charter Hall.

‘All residents of Okehampton town are invited to attend and further information will soon be available on the council’s website www.okehampton.gov.uk ’