Birchwood residents to see more council spending in area

The money received by town councils and parish councils from residents' council tax is known as a 'precept' - for each Band D (or 'average') property in Birchwood during the 2022/23 year, £117.19 was given to the town council.

This is being increased for the 2023/24 tax year, with the council bringing in £120.12 for each Band D property in Birchwood.

The town council upgraded to e-vehicles in an effort to become more environmentally friendly (Image: Birchwood Town Council)

Overall, this equates to an income of £376,816 for the town council across the year, which will be reinvested in services throughout the community - compared to the 2022/23 income of £367,625.

One of the reasons the council has voted to increase its precept is that Warrington Borough Council has told the Birchwood councillors that there has been a decrease of 14 Band D properties in the area - therefore generating less tax revenue than before.

This came as a surprise to Birchwood town councillors, though, as the minutes of the council's finance meeting in November highlight that the councillors were confused by the reported reduction of Band D properties, given a housing development is underway in the town.

Another obvious reason for the increase is the rising cost of living, and rampant inflationary pressures upon local councils across the country.

According to the town council, services paid for by the precept include: "Three part-time administrative staff based at Parkers Farm, who, together with town councillors, deal with matters of concern to local residents, on a daily basis.

"There are many things which the town council does on a daily basis; delivering and coordinating services, to meet local needs and striving to improve the quality of life in the parish. 

"We liaise with partner organisations and landowners regularly."

The town council charges a 'peppercorn' rent of just £1 per year to the community centre on Delenty Drive (Image: Newsquest)

This increase in council tax precept did not come without controversy - the precept increase was voted through by eight votes to one during a Birchwood Town Council vote.

One councillor raised an objection to any increase - Conservative town councillor Craig Allen, who represents Locking Stumps - commenting that any increase, even by a few pence, will add up and increase the burden felt during the cost of living crisis.

Cllr Allen proceeded to propose an increase in the precept of zero per cent - this was supported by no other town councillors.