CALLINGTON Town councillors voted last week in favour of an increase in the precept by 3.97%, which means an extra 14p a week on an average Band D property.

At the town council’s full council meeting on November 28, members were asked for a decision on whether to approve a precept requirement of £363,678 for 2018/2019 — the town council’s part of the council tax.

Councillors from all committees of the council reported that they had worked hard to keep the precept rise as low as possible and made a point that the money would be used for Callington’s parks and open spaces — areas highlighted as concerns by local residents.

Portreeve Mark Smith said: ‘The rise of 3.97 per cent is for improvements to play equipment and parks within the remit of the town. The chairs of the committees worked really hard on this and I think that the overall results will be much appreciated by the town.

Cllr Karen Gold said: ‘I propose that we have an increase of 3.97 per cent. After a lot of debate from the committees I am happy. I really want to get the toddler play area in the next year, and the basketball court, so I accept that we put in for a rise on Band D properties.’

In Callington, for 2017/2018, the ‘average’ Band D property paid £33.86 a week: 79% to Cornwall Council, £26.90; 10% to the police, £3.39; and 11% to the town council, £3.97 a week.

Town clerk Helen Dowdall said: ‘We recognise that we are putting our precept up but we are going to be putting the money in areas where people have demonstrated concerns, which primarily includes our parks and open spaces.

‘It will be a long process but we are hearing what people are saying and we are putting our priorities where people want.’

All Callington town council members present at the full council meeting were in favour of the proposal.