RESIDENTS in Ilminster are being told the town council is “preparing for the unknown” as soaring costs and demands on services meant a financial emergency for the unitary authority.

Cllr Leanne Taylor, Mayor of Ilminster, and town clerk Mark Tredwin wrote a letter to the residents on behalf of the council in regards to the precept from April 2024.

The letter announced “the difficult decision to increase our part of your council tax bill,” which for a Band D property will mean an extra £1.10 per week.

The council is hoping the increase will bring “improvements like street cleaning, public waste and dog waste collection, grass and verge cutting, and playparks”.

The letter read: “You may know that soaring costs and demands on services have forced Somerset Council to declare a financial emergency.

“One of the ways they’ll look to save money is bypassing the responsibility for some local services down to parish and town councils such as ours.

“Like every other local council across the county, we’re preparing for the unknown.

“We need to ensure we’ll have the staff, tools, and money available to keep our town a clean, safe, and enjoyable place to live and work in.

“In order to handle the extra responsibilities that will come our way from Somerset Council later this year, we’ve taken the difficult decision to increase our part of your council tax bill (what’s known as the precept) from April onwards.

“The actual price increase of the Ilminster precept you’ll notice will depend on the council tax band of your property.

“But, as an example, someone living in a Band D property will pay £1.10 more towards the work of Ilminster Town Council every week—about the price of a litre of milk.

“For nearly eight in every 10 properties, it will cost even less. Remember, only about 8p in every £1 of your total council tax comes to Ilminster Town Council; the rest of your money goes to funding Somerset Council, the police, and other agencies.

“Whilst we never like having to increase our part of your bill, we’re hopeful that our town will see improvements as a result.

“For example, it will help us invest in some of the services you told us are important to you during our recent residents’ survey.

“Improvements like street cleaning, public waste and dog waste collection, grass and verge cutting, and playparks.

“Not only that, but by having these things overseen by a council team that is permanently based in Ilminster – rather than by workers coming in from elsewhere – we’ll have more control over quality.

“We’ll be able to improve and maintain the high standards our town deserves.

“All this is in addition to the things we’re already doing, every day, to care for Herne Hill Nature Reserve, local play parks and open spaces, the cemetery and churchyard, the market, and Information Centre.

“In the meantime, please follow Ilminster Town Council on Facebook @ilminstertowncouncil, where we’ll share updates with you as and when we have them.

“Please don’t forget to check your eligibility for the various Somerset Council Rate relief schemes —you may be entitled to save up to 100 per cent off your annual council tax rates.

“Visit the council’s website or call Somerset Council on 0300 123 2224.

“If you have any questions, feel free to email us at town.council@ilminster.gov.uk You can also pop in to chat with officers at the Old Magistrates Court, East Street, on weekdays between 11am–2pm.

“Thanks for your understanding and support in keeping Ilminster a special place to live, work, and visit.”