Aldenham Parish Council (APC) is proposing to raise its precept by 7.98 per cent after prolonged legal battles against developers have depleted its reserves by £160,000.
APC chairman councillor Helen Jones wrote in her January 2024 chairman’s blog: “The council’s reserves stand at a worryingly low level, just adequate to run the council’s day-to-day operations for three months.
“To allow APC to rebuild the necessary reserves that have allowed it to deal with contingencies and speculative planning applications, whilst also continuing its day-to-day operations, a raise on our precept is unavoidable.”
By raising the precept, an additional £10 would be added to each household tax bill per year. This increase would take the precept to its highest level since 2018.
However, notes cllr Jones, the precept had been substantially reduced by 7.35 per cent at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to ease pressure on families at a time of great uncertainty.
Alongside taking a leading role in tackling speculative planning applications, APC organises a number of local events, including the Winter Fair at The Radlett Centre, and also subsidises The Radlett Centre by £120,000 each year.
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