The cost of electricity, running local bus services and grounds and toilet maintenance has forced up the Oakham Town Council (OTC) precept, according to Oakham's Mayor.

Council Tax bills across Rutland have begun arriving on local doorsteps and, along with expected increases from Rutland County Council and the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Police Crime Commissioner, there are other increases to factor in.

Increases include:

• Rutland County Council +3%
• Rutland County Council Adult Social Care Precept +2%
• Police and Crime Commissioner +4.8%
• Combined Fire Authority +3%
• Oakham Town Council +7.3%
• Annual Council Tax +5%

While some have objected to this increase, others have said that they think the town council "do a great job compared with some of the other towns around."

Others have acknowledged that the council pay for the Christmas tree and lights, maintenance of parks and flower beds, toilet maintenance, street lighting and free hopper bus service, suggesting that an increase is inevitable.

Oakham Mayor, Sally-Anne Wadsworth, added: "The percept this year has gone up mostly due to cost of electricity.

"Oakham Town Council have to pay the street lighting of Oakham and, as you know, electricity prices have risen a lot.

"OTC also run the Hopper bus around town and again the cost of keeping this service running has gone up.

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"This year we also have new contracts with ground maintance and the toilet maintance (Church Street). With new contracts prices do tend to go up.

"We have put money aside to refurbish the church street toilets.

"I hope this helps to understand the rise in the percept, but I believe compared to other parishes in Rutland this is quite a small increase."

The annual Council Tax has risen by an average of 5%, which is the maximum permitted.

The BCC reported yesterday, 18 March, that "In April, 75% of councils are expected to introduce the maximum increase, according to the County Councils Network, a local government organisation."

Rutland remains the most expensive county in the country for Council Tax, while Westminster remains the cheapest in the country, followed closely by a number of other London districts, including Tower Hamlets, Hammersmith and Fulham and City of London.

Do you think that this increase is worth it?

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