Residents to pay £100 towards Barnard Castle Town Council

BAND D council tax payers in Barnard Castle will now have to pay more than £100 a year to cover the costs of the town council.

Members agreed to increase the 2018/19 precept by 3.15 per cent, adding a further £3.10 to the band D bill, taking it to £101.62.

The town council set a total budget of £225,562 for the coming financial year – an increase of more than £6,000 – of which £182,779 will be raised from council tax payers through the precept.

And while spending on council staff, administration and the cost of running the HQ at Woodleigh, on Scar Top, will increase, there have

been cuts to the floral and open spaces budget (down from £11,700 to £9,500) and events – £7,000 compared to £9,000.

Councillors were told the floral and open spaces budget could be cut as the result of an underspend in the current financial year.

The town council will also give £6,500 to the Barnard Castle Christmas Lights group to help cover the cost of

festive illuminations as part of an agreement drawn up between to the two organisations.

In addition, the council has set aside £1,500 to cover any costs associated with implementing new data protection regulations which are due to come into force later this year.

Councillors agreed to increase allotment rentals by £2 per plot, taking the charge to £47, but will not impose any further rise during 2019/20.

There will be no change in the cost of playing a round on the mini golf complex.

Charges to hire the Dawson Room, in Woodleigh, will also remain the same at £12.50 for a community group and £20 for a commercial user.

With the town council now in charge of the performance area outside Woodleigh, new charges have been introduced for those wishing to use it.

Electricity will be charged at the metered rate, community groups will be offered use of the area for free and commercial enterprise will have to pay a £50 fee.