ALTON residents look set to face the highest locally enforced rise in council tax in almost ten years following a proposal to increase the town council precept by 30 per cent.

The recommendation, put forward by Alton Town CouncilÕs policy and resources committee, is to raise a precept of £270,000 for the year 2003/2004 - representing a £65,000 increase on this yearÕs figure.

While the increase may appear harsh, in real terms it will equate to just £10.40 for an average Band D household, or the equivalent of 20 pence a week, according to town clerk Steve Parkinson.

Since 1995/96 the council has significantly reduced its precept and used its reserves to subsidise the cost of services. Considered by the auditors to be larger than required, more than £450,000 of reserves has been spent in this way over the last seven years, for the benefit of Alton.

The balances are now said to have been reduced to a minimum and, as of last year, the town council has found itself having to raise sufficient funds to meet the costs of providing local services.

ÒAlthough up 30 per cent on last yearÕs precept, the increase represents only 11 per cent since 1995/96, compared to an increase in the total council tax bill of almost 70 per cent over the same period,Ó said the clerk who remains of the opinion that the Alton tax payer will still be getting Òa good dealÓ.

ÒCompared to many others Alton Town Council is lucky in the amount of resources it owns which generate income to subsidise services,Ó he said..

It was a sentiment echoed at last weekÕs P & R meeting by chairman Dave Crocker, who was keen that the emphasis should be put on maintaining services at the current level. Consideration also had to be given, he said, to the fact that Alton Assembly Rooms was in need of urgent maintenance work and that action should be taken before things got any worse.

Although considered tight, the budget, which shows an estimated expenditure of £265,000 over the year, was felt by councillors to be Òa sensible and realistic oneÓ with enough of a small contingency which, if not required, would be used to begin rebuilding the level of reserves which had fallen lower than was considered comfortable.

ÒIf this figure is maintained or increased by inflation over the next four years, Alton Town Council should be back on course. I believe this has set a good path for the future,Ó said Mr Crocker.

The precept figure was due to be ratified by full council yesterday (Thursday).