OTC holds Council Tax precept for 2021-22 and asks new North Northants to do the same

As you may recall from an Advertiser a couple of months ago, OTC is holding it's precept fixed for 2021-22. We understand the financial pressures of the pandemic and wanted that to be understood as the new North Northants Council is formed. To this effect, your Mayor wrote this letter on Oundle's behalf to the Shadow body that will become North Northamptonshire on April 1st 2021. We hope the message has been heard, but won't hold out our breath.

"With reference to the NCC Draft Budget, which proposes to increase Council Taxes, Oundle Town Council are concerned about the impact on our lower income residents. Over the past 12 months many have suffered with redundancy, reduced contract hours and reduced income through the furlough schemes. Added to this burden, we believe that as ex-East Northamptonshire residents will be hit by a higher than average percentage rise.

At Oundle Town Council we have postponed discretionary spending programmes and agreed a zero precept rise for 2021-22. We would like NCC to take a similar approach in these exceptional times, i.e. set a zero council tax rise for all residents, and postpone discretionary programmes to meet that budget. We are mindful that one of the benefits of a Unitary authority was to reduce costs not increase them.

With our best regards

Tony Robinson

Mayor etc

On behalf of Oundle Town Council"