Ten per cent parish council precept rise in store for Cockfield residents

TREE works will mean dale villagers will have to pay ten per cent more to their parish council next year.

Cockfield Parish Council has not raised its precept charge for six years but work to fell three rotten trees and increasing maintenance costs have triggered the rise.

Chairwoman Cllr Brenda Singleton said: “Things are becoming increasingly more expensive and if we get the trees done it’s going to be considerably more – so I think now is the time.”

Cllr Neville Singleton added: “If we decide to put it up two per cent it’s only about £1 a year – it’s not that much to a household.

“When you think about all the money paid to the council, police and fire this is just a minimal, minute amount – you’re talking ha’pennies.”

A tree report has uncovered an ash tree, a lime tree and a cherry tree are in need of cutting down as they’re dangerous. The total precept for 2017/18 gathered from villagers stood at £16,735 and was topped up with a £2,764 grant.

But to keep up with inflation, members discovered they would need to find another £389.88 to “stand still” as well as an extra £3,500 to pay for the tree works.

Overall, households in Cockfield and Esperley can expect a rise of £2.12 on top of their existing bill which works out at about 4p a week.

Cllr Neville Singleton added: “We still get people moaning but they don’t understand that a ten percent increase is still minute.”

Other members pointed to neighbouring parishes, such as Evenwood, which put its precept up by 184 per cent two years ago to pay for the takeover of the Randolph Community Centre.

“Which is an absolute disgrace,” added Cllr Brenda Singleton.