CIVIC leaders in Ledbury have given the go-ahead for a 27 per cent town council tax increase for the next financial year.

Ledbury Town Council agreed last week (December 6) to raise an extra £101,441 in its precept which will mean a rise of approximately £29.74 per year for Band D properties.

Councillors said they needed to make the increase to ensure they had enough reserves and could run efficient services.

They say some of the funds will go towards traffic safety measures, waste bins, better signage and repairs to the war memorial and cemetery wall.

Councillor Matthew Eakin said the rise would be unpopular and asked if there was any alternative.

Chairman Nina Shields said it was the only way to deliver services effectively and maintain reserves to look after the town’s historic buildings.

Coun Phillip Howells explained that the increase mainly centered around having healthy reserves.

“We agreed that if we didn’t have reserves of around £250,000 we would potentially not be able to cover our liabilities,” he said.

The town council also discussed its legal costs associated with the recent judicial review which total £211,000.

Coun Shields explained they were seeking legal advice to see if they had a strong enough case to recover costs.

“We have spent a considerable amount since the summer retrieving documents. Allegations have been made that they were deliberately destroyed but we can’t present any evidence for that,” she said.

“What we can say is we couldn’t find them. We went back to the solicitors and got the files back from them.”

She said at some stage the council will have to make a decision.

“Is it going to cost us an arm and a leg to try and recover the costs? Because if we are talking £250,000 in costs and it is going to cost us £150,000 to reclaim half of it, it isn’t going to be worth it.”