What is the Precept?
The precept is a small additional charge that appears on Council tax bills. The money raised is used to support the activities of the Town Council on behalf of St. Anne’s residents.
St. Anne’s Town Council precept has not been increased this year but Fylde Borough Council has levied a ‘Special Expenses’ tax on the bill of every of St. Anne’s householder in order to ‘balance its books’ through the introduction of Differential Taxation.
The upshot of this is that whereas the cost of shared facilities like all the open spaces, the Promenade, the Swimming Pool, Ashton gardens etc, was spread across every council taxpayer in the Fylde, the costs are now being levied on just the residents where the facilities exist. In effect this means that every St Anne’s resident is paying for the upkeep of its facilities (well those that aren’t earmarked for closure) even though everyone else uses them. This is termed Differential Taxation (Some call it Equitable taxation but the residents of Lytham, Kirkham and St. Annes are seeing big increases in tax rates brought about Fylde Borough Council.) The extra money raised will be collected by FBC and used by them.
St. Anne’s Town Council draws up a plan of what it what it wants to develop each year and then sets the precept accordingly. The precept amounts to around £4.25 per year per band D property. Last year the Town Council made donations towards the town’s Christmas lights from its funds, offered grants to community organisations, and bought six police bikes.
Councillor Tony Ford
