NORTH Weald Bassett Parish Council is proposing to increase its precept for the 2017-18 financial year.

The two per cent rise means the amount each household in the Parish would pay to the parish council in the next financial year would increase by £1.28 for the year.

The total precept – the amount requested by the parish council to provide its services and support initiatives throughout North Weald, Hastingwood and Thornwood Common – is £175,485 (a nil increase would have seen a precept of £172,034).

The budget includes £3,000 for Weald Common, £3,000 for street lighting, a £3,000 contingency fund should the Government decide to cap local councils’ spending and £3,000 for a ‘New Home Fund’ should the parish council move out of its current base at North Weald Library.

Councillor Terry Blanks, supporting an increase in the precept, told Monday’s finance and general purposes committee: “We are looking at changes coming along. We have
the issue of the library which may be coming forward.

“We may have to think about considerable funds for moving. We really ought to be building up a bit of reserves for this.”

Councillor Andy Tyler said: “I think we have to increase just to safeguard ourselves.”

The council has also had to consider a reduction in the amount of money it will receive from the Government with its Parish Support Grant being reduced by £10,541 over the next three years (by £7,027 in 2017-18 and £3,514 in 2018-19).

The council has earmarked money to repolish the floor at the Parish Hall, Thornwood Common, and also purchase 20 padded chairs and a microwave for the hall.

A contribution of about £500 will be made towards the fundraising for a defibrillator at Thornwood Parish Hall while £500 will cover the cost of annual maintenance and insurance of the CCTV systems at Weald Common and the High Road shops.

Two dog waste bins are to be provided for Blenheim Square while the council will again be offering financial support to two Play in the Park events, at Queens Hall, North Weald, and Thornwood Common.

Donations of £200 are to be made to both the Marie Curie charity and the Essex Air Ambulance.

The budget will go before the next full council meeting for final approval.