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21
Jan
Heated debate as Ripon councillors increase parish precept
Following heated discussions last night Ripon City Council approved a 4.3% increase in its parish precept, taking the payment for occupiers of an average Band D property to just over £80 a year.
The precept is charged by the city council for its work and services over the year.
It is added the to the separate precepts charged by North Yorkshire Council and the police and fire services to make up the overall council tax charge.
The increase, which was approved by a 7-4 vote, follows North Yorkshire Council's planned increase of 4.99% and a proposed 30% hike in the precept charged by the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Ripon City Council leader Andrew Williams said the parish precept increase equates to six pence a week for a Band D property.
He added:
Nobody likes raising taxes, but with no financial support from central government and an increase in the amount of employers' National Insurance that we have to pay for our staff, we have few options open to us, as we aim to provide the best possible services for our residents in a professional and efficient way.
In the last financial year, Ripon's parish precept raised £457,800 — of which £58,470 was used to pay for a programme of free-to-attend public events staged by the council on Market Square.
These ranged from commemoration of the D-Day 80th anniversary in June, to the switch-on of the city's Christmas lights in November.
While councillors Jackie Crozier and Gary Camplejohn spoke about the success of the events in terms of public enjoyment and the number of residents and visitors that attended, councillors Barbara Brodigan and Pauline McHardy had different views.
Cllr Brodigan said:
Spending more and more on events on Market Square is not value for money. An increase in the parish precept has to be paid by all residents - many of whom do not attend. We need to have more detail before we can agree to another increase.
Cllr McHardy, added:
At this time when taxes are increasing, the council needs to cut its cloth to fit. While I have no issue in respect of staffing and their wages, we are going too far with the amount being spent on events and I'm sorry, but on this occasion I cannot support the parish precept increase.
Cllr Williams responded:
The precept is the only element of council tax that we can guarantee is being spent in Ripon and for the benefit of our residents.
We have a detailed breakdown showing the prudent way in which the money is spent and we should be proud of the way that we provide free events for the whole community, which are particularly welcomed by hard-pressed families in these difficult financial times.
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