Community transport, youth outreach, and an all-weather pedestrian route between two villages were among projects given the green light when Niton and Whitwell Parish Council agreed its annual budget this week.
The Parish Council, which already runs its own public toilets plus the NitWhit minibus service – and helps to subsidise the No. 6 Sunday service – heard a warning that more and more services are being foisted on local councils, and approved a monthly increase in average Council Tax bills of £1.37. This follows a zero increase last year.
If we don’t, no one will
Parish Council chairman Graham Melville said:
“These are challenging times, and the decision to ask residents for a tax increase wasn’t taken lightly. But it’s becoming clearer by the month that if we don’t step up to the plate and safeguard services, no one will.
“Things we take for granted, like the recreation ground and the library, would be at risk without our support.”
£1.37 per month increase
The villages’ 2016-17 parish precept will rise to £34,167 from £18,839. The £1.37 monthly Council Tax increase is for Band D properties.
Full details of the budget are available on the Council’s Website.
Image: peterallen under CC BY 2.0
