Council tax data published by the UK Government via the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC) showing council tax levels and precepts set by councils in England for the council’s financial year 2023/24 shows that the precept set by Penrith Town Council is 5.4% above the national average among town and parish councils in England.
The Band D precept set by the town council for Penrith council tax payers is £83.09 5.4% higher than the average town and parish council in England.
Other town and parish councils in the new Westmorland and Furness area like Ulverston town council have a Band D precept of £55.89 putting Penrith Town councils precept almost 60% higher.
The government figures showing the comparison comes as the new council tax bills land through letterboxes across Penrith with an overall bill above the national average for council tax in England that shows an average Band D council tax bill of £2,065 with a Band D for Penrith council tax payers of £2,211.61
It has also emerged that the monthly staffing bill for Penrith Town Council for the month of February was almost £27,000 for a single month including Salaries, HMRC Taxes,National Insurance and Pension contributions.
Neighbouring parish councils having monthly staffing bills of around £201 per month in comparison.
This has seen questions about the value for money and benefit of Penrith Town Council raised with calls for a community governance review and some residents questioning what they are paying for and getting from the town council for the precept they are paying.
One life long resident of Castletown area of Penrith has said “I was shocked when I opened my council tax bill this week to see what I have to pay for the town council.
I have no idea what they are doing for that amount when you look it’s almost the same amount as we are now paying for the fire service for all they do, that’s value for money I don’t mind paying. but what do we get for the town council money exactly is anyone’s guess.
My Daughter lives in Plumpton and pays only £15 towards the Parish council there and she is in a Band D like mine but I am paying £83 for our parish or town council but for what?”
What do you think is the town council value for money?
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