POLITICAL leaders on Trowbridge Town Council are to be invited to make alternative budget proposals.

They are Cllr Stewart Palmen, leader of the Liberal Democrats, and Cllr Antonio Piazza, leader of the Tory group on the council.

Cllr Edward Kirk, of the Conservatives, said he would submit alternative proposals on their behalf.

The move follows Wiltshire Council saying the draft Council Tax base for Trowbridge for 2021 is currently 11,592.82 Band D equivalents, compared with 11,740.34 Band D equivalents in 2020.

Lance Allan, the town council's chief executive, said on Tuesday: "This is a reduction of 147.52, resulting from the increase in the number of families claiming Council Tax Support, which, in effect, has to be funded by the other residents."

Wiltshire Council said: "If numbers were to increase significantly between now and December this may trigger the need to recalculate the tax base."