Weymouth Town Council agrees no increase to precept for 2021/22

Weymouth Town Council are pleased to announce there will be no increase to the town’s precept for the second successive year.

Members discussed and agreed the draft budget and precept for the coming year at the meeting of the Full Council on Wednesday 13 January 2020.

Cllr David Gray, Chair of the Finance & Governance Committee, said:

“We always strive to deliver services as efficiently and effectively as possible. We recognise these are extremely difficult times for residents so we’re glad to be able to provide important community amenities and front-line services for our town, without incurring any increase in the precept for 2021/22. This is the second year we have achieved this.”

The council has had to make savings based on the 0% increase from last year. Decisions such as bringing cleansing staff and payroll in-house have resulted in savings, without affecting or reducing provision of services for residents.

The precept refers to the town council’s share of the council tax paid by residents and is used to maintain local services including parks, gardens, open spaces, cemeteries, allotments, beach, community development and town centre work.

As well as maintaining award-winning amenities in the town, such as Weymouth Beach and Greenhill Gardens, the council has had to adapt to new ways of working during the coronavirus pandemic.

The council has worked with local groups and organisations in the community to provide additional support which has been vital for some residents. Initiatives such as the Keep in Touch scheme, in partnership with Refresh, ensured vulnerable residents were able to have food and/or prescriptions delivered to their homes and now offers weekly phone calls or letters for members to help address social isolation during lockdown.