WHITCHURCH Town Council will ask its members to confirm a request for a Council Tax precept of £561,732 for the forthcoming year amid ongoing RAAC concerns.

The figure is just £5,002 more than the request made by the council for the 2023/24 financial year, and is hoped to be agreed at Wednesday’s last full town council meeting of the year.

The figure, based on Band D households in the town, has been set by finance officers but within the proposal report, proper officer Mike McDonald has highlighted the lack of revenue creation with the Civic Centre out of action.

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His report said: “It has been extremely difficult to produce forecasts for the next financial year, given uncertainties surrounding the Civic Centre infrastructure and its current closure because of RAAC investigations and any reparative works.

“Decisions will not be made about the building by Shropshire Council until early in 2024 and, consequently, we have had to produce our budget on the assumption ‘like-for-like’ basis in terms of activity levels, where possible, but with the intention of keeping budgets ‘flat’ until we are certain of outcomes.”

The council says it is likely to bring in around £88,160 from the public and business around Community Infrastructure Levy – from new developments – and other rents, but faces around a £44,000 shortfall on 2023/24’s income of £132,958.

The council expects expenditure for the year to be at around £650,000 - £27,000 down on the previous year – and continues to expect to save monies through the taking ‘in-house’ of external contracts.

The report added: “The overall effect is a net saving on total costs, with an increase in Salaries reflecting additional hours to undertake this and other maintenance.

“Salaries and Pensions are also affected by national increases, including on-costs of National Insurance Employer Contributions and Pensions – a provision is made for this within the appropriate figures, though savings have been made on employer contributions to the Local Government Pension Scheme.

“Elsewhere, incremental, and other costs have increased due to economic pressures experienced throughout the country.”

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The meeting, at Bargates Hall near St Alkmund’s Church, will be at 7.15pm on Wednesday, December 20.

Other items on the agenda include noting recently approved grants, including £1,025 to the Bradbury Care Centre which is now fundraising for its new development.

Councillors will be asked to approve a recommendation of installing an additional street light in Caldecott Crescent at a cost of £3,455.