NAILSEA Town Council s precept will be increasing by an extra 5.1 per cent next year.

NAILSEA Town Council's precept will be increasing by an extra 5.1 per cent next year.

Nailsea town councillors agreed to increase the precept for 2008/2009 to allow £30,000 to be put into General Reserves.

The amount band D households will be paying for the services of Nailsea Town Council from April is £66.42, compared to £63.03 this financial year.

The proposal was recommended by the Finance and General Purposes Committee to boost the council's reserves.

Town councils cannot borrow money and do not have overdraft facilities so members need to put money aside each year to cover any unforeseen expenses.

The council voted in favour of the recommendation although one member is against the rise.

Councillor Bob Coleman said: "Why should Nailsea residents be asked to pay this exorbitant amount in case something goes wrong?

"We have a large percentage of pensioners in the area and we are asking those already on small incomes to pay out."

Nailsea Town Council has been aiming to be able to put three months' worth of its budget into the reserves for two years.

Town council clerk Ian Morrell said: "The advice I've taken from the Audit Commission is that there isn't a specified amount councils should have in reserves because every council has different responsibilities.

"The town council aims to have three months' worth, if it goes below two months it's a problem and it mustn't go above six months.