Ilminster Town Council states no rules broken in 39% increase

First Published by: Ilminster News

ILMINSTER Town Council has reassured residents it is playing by the rules, following on-line suggestions that the 39% increase in the town's Council Tax precept broke a recently implemented law.

A blog was published last week by former Chard resident Carter Magna, which suggested that since December 2011, any council tax rise above 3.5% has to be put to a referendum. Under the plans which were unveiled by Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles, councils losing a referendum would have to revert to a lower increase in bills. 

Mr Pickles argued that those seeking to raise bills in difficult economic times required a democratic mandate to do so. However, the new legislation only applies to county and district authorities - and therefore the people of Ilminster are not required to go to the ballot box to have their say on the precept.

Explaining the situation, Ilminster town clerk Julia Thorne said: “This is only the case for district and county council - hence they are also being given a monetary incentive to it at 0%” “We are not being offered any such incentive so we have to put ours up. They might implement it to town and parish councils in the future, but they are not at the moment.”

Money from the increase in Ilminster's precept is being used not just towards a new skate park and multi use games area, but also to minimise the effects of funding and service cuts from the district and county councils.

WHAT'S yourview? Would you like to see the decision to raise the council tax in Ilminster put to a referendum or do you trust the authority to spend your money wisely?

Are you paying too much for your Council Tax?