Purse strings tightened for Yapton

At a meeting councillors agreed to set its precept at the unchanged amount of £40,000.

Chairman Stephen Haymes said: “Everyone nowadays is having to watch their finances and Yapton Parish Council is doing its bit by maintaining an unchanged precept for the eighth year in succession.

“Conscious of the difficulties some families may be facing this year, we have carefully reviewed our costs on a line-by-line basis and while small increases in certain areas are unavoidable, with prudent management we believe these can be offset by savings elsewhere.”

The precept freeze means the average taxpayer living in a Band D property will actually pay less and will work out at just £29.97 per annum compared to £30.33 last year.

This year the council will also be delivering four major projects all of which will be completed shortly.

Cllr Haymes said: “Thanks to the hard work of our clerk, we have been able to budget for the major projects which include lighting for the village hall car park, the new skatepark, additional security fencing and gates for Cinders Lane allotments site, plus a refurbishment of the kitchen and bar facilities in the hall.”

In addition the council will continue to provide existing services, including the maintenance of key sites, litter collections and financial support for some voluntary organisations.