Northampton Town Council sets first ever budget - here is how much extra residents will pay a year

Northampton Town Council has set its first ever budget - with the average resident having to pay an extra £48 a year to cover its £1.78 million expenditure.

Councillors narrowly approved the proposed budget by 11 votes to eight at a meeting on Wednesday (January 27).

The precept was set as £48 a year for the average band D property, but £32 for band A households to fund the council's expecting spending in its first year.

Labour council leader Jane Birch said: “It is great we have cross party support for our first town council budget.

"I think the town will benefit from us being able to keep hold of the Guildhall, the mayoralty and town-wide events.

"These are difficult times but we are determined to make every penny count and give value for money."

Northampton Town Council was formed last month as an effective replacement for Northampton Borough Council once it is dissolved to make way for the new West Northamptonshire Council.

It is not known exactly which services the town council – the largest of its kind in the country as it represents a population of 130,000 – will take on but it is expected to be non-statutory ones such as parks, public spaces and community centres.

The new local authority will also take on responsibility for much of the town’s heritage assets such as the mayoralty, which dates back 805 years, the Guildhall and its artefacts.

During the meeting last week, some councillors wanted to set the precept at a lower value as much of the budget would not be spent in the first year and to help residents.

Leader of the Conservative group, Mike Hallam, said: "We were disappointed that Labour didn't listen to our concerns and put through a budget which we believe has too much contingencies.

"We wanted to set the precept at a lower rate to give residents more money in their pockets at this difficult time but Labour wanted to put more money in reserves."

Cllr Birch said the council's first task is to consult the community to find out what it wants.

"We know the West Northants Unitary will be looking to cut non statutory services. We know that many services for children and families have already gone," she said.

"Sure Start centres, some libraries, early help schemes, some respite schemes, have gone over the last few years. We cannot hope to bring them back into the town.

"What we can do is look to see what help we can give our voluntary sector and local organisations to help them meet some of the unmet need.

"We are determined to make this town the best it can be."

Leader of the Borough Labour Group, Danielle Stone, welcomed the council tax reduction scheme being reduced from 35 to 20 per cent as it will help more vulnerable families.

“Labour always fought to have the council tax reduction scheme made as low as possible," she said.

"It was the Conservative administration who put it up to 35 per cent.

"It is good to see that even their fellow Conservatives across West Northants have seen the sense in lowering the threshold.”