Buckingham Town Council has voted to maintain the same budget for 2021/22 as the council has provided for in the current year. At the Town Council meeting held to set the budget councillors voted to raise £903,990 through Council Tax in total, the same as for the current year. However, in the coming year the cost will be shared amongst slightly fewer people. This has been caused by an increase in the number of houses claiming Council Tax benefit, and less homes being completed in 2020 than forecast. This means that to maintain the current budget of £903,930, the annual cost for a Band D household will be £173.27, an increase of £4.21 or just over 8p per week.
The Council provides a wide range of services compared to those run by neighbouring councils, including:
• Public toilets in Cornwalls Meadow and Chandos Park
• Tourist Information Centre
• Shopmobility
• Lace Hill Sports and Community Centre
• Brackley Road Cemetery
• Bourton Park
• 5 play areas
• Annual programme of over 20 events including the fireworks display and Fringe Week
• Defending and refreshing the Buckingham Neighbourhood Plan
• Providing grants to local community groups
Councillor Geraldine Collins, Mayor of Buckingham, said: “The Town Council has done its utmost to keep any increase to our residents as low as possible, whilst ensuring our services are maintained at the expected level. I hope you will agree this has been achieved.”