PRESS RELEASE
Bishop’s Stortford Town Council Precept Demand 2024/25
Headline: Town Council freezes Council Tax for seventh year, for Bishop’s Stortford Residents
At its meeting on 5th February 2024, the Town Council set the precept demand (the Council’s share of the Council Tax for the year) at £1,203,799.
Town and Parish Councils take just 2% of the full council tax allocation and receive no direct funding from Central Government. Other areas of funding, such as the New Homes Bonus, are also no longer passed on to the Authority by East Herts District Council. Whilst the majority of Town Council income received is levied from the Council tax, it also receives income from lettings, investments and certain paid services (such as allotment rents and cemetery fees). The Council also seeks to reduce overhead expenditure by obtaining grants or contributory funding where possible (such as s.106 developer contributions).
As such, the Band D household will continue to pay £68.69 per year for all Town Council Services.
Town Council Leader, Cllr Miriam Swainston announced:
“The Council is acutely aware of the ongoing cost of living crisis facing residents and has decided not to increase any costs to household budgets for Bishop’s Stortford households in 2024/25 for all of the varied services that we provide. Whilst the Town Council does not face the same financial challenges as those currently being experienced by the District and County Councils, it is still mindful of the price rises that it too will face – especially for energy and materials. However, by careful financial management we believe that we can absorb these higher costs and continue to expand our range and quality of work. We remain on track to deliver on all of the promises outlined in the Strategic Plan. We also believe that the agreed budget for the year ahead provides excellent value for money.”
