WHITEHILL Town Council agreed its budget and precept for the coming financial year as it prepares for a period of austerity to balance its books.

Councillors hope that by keeping last year's precept of £355,097 the same during 2014-2015, they will be able to lift the level of their general reserves, which have fallen to an "inappropriate low".

The general reserves at the beginning of this financial year were £13,000 (in April 2013) and the council has vowed to bring them up to "an appropriate level" within two years - by the end of the 2014-2015 financial year, which runs from April to April.

For full story, see this week's Bordon Herald.