ILMINSTER Town Council says it has “taken the difficult decision to increase our part of your council tax bill” to handle the extra responsibilities coming from Somerset Council.

Residents living in a Band D property will pay £1.10 more towards the work of the town council every week.

The town council hopes this will help them invest in some of the services residents care about and “have more control over quality” since they will be overseen by a council team.

A message from Mayor Cllr Leanne Taylor, and Ilminster Town Council’s clerk, Mark Tredwin, said: “You may know that soaring costs and demands on services have forced Somerset Council to declare a financial emergency.

“One of the ways they’ll look to save money is bypassing the responsibility for some local services down to parish and town councils such as ours.

“Like every other local council across the county, we’re preparing for the unknown. We wanted to ensure we’ll have the staff, tools, and money available to keep our town a clean, safe, and enjoyable place to live and work in.

“In order to handle the extra responsibilities that will come our way from Somerset Council later this year, we’ve taken the difficult decision to increase our part of your council tax bill (what’s known as the precept) from April onwards.

Chard & Ilminster News:

“The actual price of the Ilminster precept you’ll notice will depend on the council tax band of your property.

“But, as an example, someone living in a Band D property will pay £1.10more towards the work of Ilminster Town Council every week – about the price of a litre of milk. For nearly eight in 10 properties, it will cost even less.

“Remember, only about 8p in every £1 of your total council tax comes to Ilminster Town Council; the rest of your money goes to funding Somerset Council, the police, and other agencies.

“Whilst we never like having to increase our part of your bill, we’re hopeful that our town will see improvements as a result.

“For example, it will help us invest in some of the services you told us are important to you during our recent residents’ survey.

“Improvements like street cleaning, public waste, and dog waste collection, grass and verge cutting, and playparks.

Not only that, but by having these things overseen by a council team that is permanently based in Ilminster – rather than by workers coming from elsewhere – we’ll have more control over quality.

“We’ll be able to improve and maintain the high standards our town deserves.

“All this in addition to the things we’re already doing, every day, to care for Herne Hill Nature Reserve, local play parks and open spaces, the cemetery and churchyard, the market and information centre.”