LUDLOW Town Council has set a budget to raise more than £650k for 2015/16 which will involve a local increase of the precept of more than six per cent.

But it could have been worse as the initial calculation was for a rise of eight per cent. However, this has now been slightly reduced.

The town council budget for the next financial year is £650,446 of which the lion’s share, £335,299, will come from local council tax payers.

There will be a contribution of £278,808 from local facilities and services including income from the market. The budget will also get a £36,594 top up by taking money from town council reserves.

Ludlow Town Council has also factored in the loss of nearly £35,000 from Central Government that has been retained by Shropshire Council.

In reaching the decision the town council has said that it will undertake a review of costs and overheads to see where future savings can be made.

Unitary, county and district councils have to hold a local referendum if they decide to increase precepts by more than two per cent but this does not apply to town and parish councils.

Ludlow Town Council is unusual in that it employs a significant direct workforce in addition to office based staff.