RESIDENTS of Trowbridge could be asked to pay for a 10.1 per cent rise in the town council’s annual budget for the next financial year.

The council’s policy and resources committee met on Tuesday (January 10) to recommend the budget for 2023/24 to the council, effective from April when the new financial year begins.

The Full Council will meet on Tuesday (January 17) to consider whether to approve the Liberal Democrat-controlled authority’s budget recommendation.

The budget will set the council tax charge for residents of Trowbridge, which is in addition to the council tax charges levied by Wiltshire Council, Wiltshire Police and Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue.

The town council is expected to charge a Band D household £220.31 for 2023/24, which represents a 10.1 per cent increase in line with inflation and is equivalent to less than £4.24 per week.

Town council leader, Cllr Stewart Palmen, said: “When we first looked at the budget we came out with a 20 per cent increase and committees have identified savings to squeeze it down to 10.1 per cent.

“We appreciate that the cost-of-living crisis is impacting on the majority of our residents but the town council remains committed to enhancing and improving the town for everyone, delivering services and facilities for Trowbridge, whilst not making unaffordable contributions to reserves until circumstances improve.”

He says the town council’s share of the council tax still represents less than 10 per cent of the total council tax charge for Wiltshire.

And Trowbridge residents will still pay less than the average for residents of towns in Wiltshire, he added.

It now provides a range of services and facilities including:

  • The Civic Centre; offering a range of events and entertainment, Longfield Community Centre including the driving test centre and Studley Green Community Centre.
  • Trowbridge Museum in the Shires including its outreach service.
  • Active Trowbridge sports coaching in schools and holiday clubs.
  • Floral displays, Town Centre CCTV, benches, grit bins, bus shelters and litter bins.
  • Events in the town including the Coronation celebrations in May, Armed Forces Day in June, Active Trowbridge Festival in July, Uniformed Services Day in September, Remembrance Sunday and the Christmas Lights.
  • The Town Park including the Bowls Club and Tennis Courts.
  • Play Areas, Stallards Skate Park, Studley BMX track and Multi Use Games Areas at Longfield, Studley Green, Seymour and Paxcroft Mead.
  • The town council also undertakes street sweeping and green-space maintenance to enhance the basic service provided by Wiltshire Council.