Better bus shelters planned as council tax goes up

People in Ludlow will see their council tax rise

Better bus shelters and more CCTV cameras were planned as councillors discussed tax rises.

The town council in Ludlow, Shropshire, has agreed a 5.5% increase in its precept.

The precept, or the amount it requests from residents, will increase from £780,645 to £823,696.

A newly proposed budget will mean an annual increase in council tax for an average band D property of £13.02 per year, equating to an increase of around 25p per week.

The rise will be added to an anticipated 4.99% across the board increase in Shropshire Council’s precept for 2024/25.

It comes as local authorities at all levels grapple with rising costs and real-terms cuts to central government funding.

Despite the challenges, the town council said it would be implementing a number of capital projects.

These will include bus shelter refurbishments and a scheme to extend the town’s CCTV coverage.

The Guildhall building in Ludlow

Last month, councillors agreed not to increase fees on any of the services they provides to residents, including market rents and cemetery fees.

The council has budgeted £240,000 for loan repayments and overheads such as liability insurance and professional fees, while salaries of the council’s 19 full and part-time staff amount to a further £608,000.

Other outgoing include £22,000 to maintain the town's Guldhall and £33,000 for grants and community projects.

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This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.