CHARD town councillors will discuss a possible council tax increase as part of a proposed budget for 2024/25.

A decision on the 2024/25 budget will be made at an extraordinary town council meeting taking place on Tuesday, February 6 at 7pm.

Details of what will be discussed were included in the meeting’s agenda.

The document read: “The tax base for 2024/25 has increased by 2.29 per cent to £4,582.00.

“In order to balance the budget for 2024/25 and cover any additional costs of services devolved from Somerset Council (£250,000) the following proposals are included in this final budget: “An increase of 45.22 per cent on the D Band charge from £173.09 to £251.37, which is an increase of £78.28 per annum (or £1.51 per week), resulting in a precept of £1,151,765.

“An increase in cemetery charges and Guildhall hire charges as agreed by the Amenities and Events Committee.

“Should the council not wish to budget for any additional services that may be devolved by Somerset Council, a gap in services to the town may result.

“However, based on forecast expenditure as is, where a precept of £901,765 would be required to balance the budget, there would be an increase of 13.7 per cent on the Band D charge of £173.09 to £196.81, which is an increase of £23.72 per annum (or £0.46 per week).”

Somerset Council, which declared a financial emergency last year, is facing cost pressures of £108.5 million in 2024-25, an annual increase of 20 per cent.

This "unprecedented position" is due to the rising costs faced by local authorities across the country, largely driven by costs of social care services - which could be cut too - Somerset Council said.

Last month, a Somerset Council spokesperson said: “We are in an unprecedented position due to the rising costs faced by local authorities across the country, largely driven by costs of social care.

“We face a budget gap of £100m and if we cannot set a balanced budget, Government commissioners will do it for us, without the local knowledge or concern about the longer term.”

Somerset Council leader Bill Revans has welcomed a letter recently from more than 40 MPs calling for an urgent rethink on council funding plans.