Hot TOPICS 
Fiver to Save Town from County Cuts
(January 17, 2016)A council tax increase by Warminster Town Council is close to being agreed seeing the middle band payers pay under just five pounds extra each year as cash strapped Wiltshire Council have slashed the precept support grant it receives by over 80 per cent.
The town council will set its budget tomorrow night increasing its income from the 6,000 householders who pay council tax by £25,700 if members vote it through.
Councillors face handling an uncertain future as Wiltshire Council vigorously pursue its austerity programme including threatening to only meet its statutory duties.
"Wiltshire Council decisions threaten the future of the popular town park and abandoning the children's play areas to the elements with a policy that will see no new equipment to replace existing pieces when they wear out," explained Councillor Paul Macdonald.
"These are just two of the high profile effects of their policies.
"I am part of a working group of town councillors that is looking at what the future holds for Wiltshire Council owned assets and the services they deliver.
"Members of the Finance and Assets committee have set a budget that allows some scope for us to put in for a community asset transfer of the Lakeside Pleasure Grounds to our ownership."
The town council expenditure will exceed £500,000 this year for the first time. It is boosting its devolved services budget reserves to £141,000 as it prepares to run the town park and possibly the toilets.
The meeting is being held at the Civic Centre starting at 7pm.