Home News News Faversham Town Councillors set their budget and precept for the forthcoming financial year 2022-2023

Faversham Town Councillors set their budget and precept for the forthcoming financial year 2022-2023

At it’s Annual Finance Meeting on Monday 17th January 2022, Faversham Town Councillors set their budget and precept for the forthcoming financial year 2022-2023.  The precept is funding we receive from the local council tax. 

Town Councillors raised concerns about residents already facing increased bills, with inflation now over 5%.  We are therefore pleased to confirm the precept will increase by only 3%, which means, for an average Band D household, an increase of just 4 pence per week to £1.54, on the portion of the Council Tax the Town Council receives.    

In the next financial year the Town Council’s priorities remain active travel, the environment, youth and community, equality and diversity.  We are employing two young people from Faversham, who are undertaking Apprenticeships in administration and facilities management and paying them more than the minimum apprenticeship rate.   

We will see the permanent exhibition of Magna Carta opening in The Town Hall and a referendum on the Faversham Neighbourhood Plan.  We continue to lobby for an opening Creek Bridge and support the regeneration of the Creek for maritime, work and leisure activities.  The Faversham & District Community Lottery will celebrate its first birthday in April, having brought more than £40,000 of funding to over 50 local good causes in that time. 

Our other ambitions include forming a community orchard and woodland, installing more living roof bus shelters, increasing cycling and walking in the town and reducing our carbon footprint.     

Cllr Mrs Alison Reynolds BEM, the Mayor of Faversham, said “I am proud of the projects being undertaken by the Town Council and that we are able to present such a reasonable and balanced budget to the residents of Faversham.” 

Cllr Trevor Martin, the Deputy Mayor Faversham said “This budget will see the culmination of a number of projects which have been slowed down by the pandemic. I am particularly pleased that the Christmas Lights Committee will not have to submit a grant application in its 40th Anniversary Year, as the Town Council’s annual contribution has been included within the budget. There is funding set aside for the Queens Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June and those events which have announced they are going ahead in 2022. Maintenance of the Guildhall continues and we look forward to hosting more wedding ceremonies there.  The small increase in the precept is something we feel should happen if needed each year. The Town Council will continue to apply for grants to support its work to supplement this budget” 

Having successfully obtained funding in excess of £100,000 this year to supplement the precept, the Town Council will continue to apply for grants to support its future projects.  

Annual Precept: £553,132 

Band D per year: £80.39 

Band D per week: £1.54 

Published
20 January 2022
Last Updated
20 January 2022
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