Kington residents will have to pay an extra 4.9 per cent for the town council’s part of the council tax for 2025/26.

This will give the town council a precept of about £134,000 and would see the average Band D property being asked to pay about £145.24, an increase of about £7.24 a year or 15p per week compared to last year.

This amount will be added to council tax figures from Herefordshire Council, West Mercia Police and Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service before the final bills arrive.

Chairman of the Finance and General Purpose Committee Councillor Richard Banks told members that the council is facing increased staffing costs particularly due to National Insurance increases and costs for projects such as the public open space at Crooked Well.

He said the council intends to carry out a review of staffing soon to see what is needed generally and whether the structure needs to change. The council still has to vote on whether to proceed with the staffing review. 

He said the amount spent on churchyard maintenance had increased from £5,000 in last year’s budget to £12,000 in this and that would cover some trees that need attention, repairs to the lychgate, possible car parking work and drainage issues.

There is also £50,000 for maintenance of the cottage at the Recreation Ground, money for Christmas decorations, Kington in Bloom, festival marketing and community grants.

Members of the Finance and General Purposes committee presented their recommendation to the full council meeting this week. The full council agreed on the increase.