Wilmslow Town Council has now set its precept for the financial year 2025-2026.

Being the lowest tier of local government, Wilmslow Town Council is the closest tier to the community and can prioritise Wilmslow issues where it has the authority to do so.

Wilmslow Town Council oversees facilities and services that aim to contribute to the community and identity of Wilmslow, such as the town's floral planters, community grants, Wilmslow's Christmas lights and local events such as Cinema on the Carrs, the Remembrance Sunday parade and the Wilmslow Christmas lights switch-on event.

Cheshire East Council is a separate council, that manages services such as education, highways, social services, libraries, waste management and planning for all Cheshire East residents.

Formed in 2011, Wilmslow Town Council has grown over the years, with aspirations to expand further and to make a real difference to the lives of the residents, who provide its funding through the 'precept', an additional payment highlighted on the annual council tax bill issued by Cheshire East Council each March.

When Wilmslow Town Council was formed thirteen years ago, the 'precept' payment for a typical band 'D' property was set at £21.47 per year. This figure rose in 2017-2018 to £27.45, to reflect falling reserves and higher costs over the preceding six years. This figure remained broadly static for seven years until it rose to £37.31 last year.

At its budget meeting in December 2024, the Town Council considered its income and expenditure for the next financial year (2025-2026) alongside its aspirations and financial reserves, before setting its precept request of £683,295, equating to a band 'D' property charge of £55.93 per year, an increase of £18.62.

The average comparable charge across the country in 2024-2025 was £85.89 per year.

It was agreed by the Town Council that the net expenditure budget increase for 2025/26 should be funded by a mixture a precept increase ( £231,368) and from Town Council reserves (£266,801)

In setting its priorities for 2025-2026, the Town Council gave regard to both its own aspirations and its likely role in continuing to work with Cheshire East Council to protect local services for the people of Wilmslow.

The following new initiatives were provided for within the expenditure budget for the year 2025-26. Each project will be considered on merit when proposals are formulated:

• Employment of additional staff to support Community Groups and volunteers, to deliver events and to manage our aspirations for enhancing the maintenance of communal spaces, such as streets, squares, green spaces and pedestrian areas (c£105k)
• Enhanced Ranger service (c£23k)
• Town Signage and lighting (c£78k)
• Youth Projects and infrastructure (c£46k)
• Grove Street improvements (c£80k)
• South Drive Toilet Block recommissioning and developing (c£30K)
• Supporting CEC services including to refurbish Romany's Garden (c£40k)
• Queen Elizabeth II Memorial (c£35k)
• Neighbourhood Plan implementation (c£80k)

Wilmslow Town Mayor, Councillor Tim Higgins, said, "Wilmslow Town Council's services, and its role in building our community, make a real difference to local people.

"The Town Council also plays an important role in providing services that complement the much wider range of high-profile services provided by Cheshire East Council.

"The Town Councillors have ideas that will positively impact Wilmslow residents, but that will inevitably have a cost.

"Likewise, the continuing financial pressures that we see at Cheshire East Council are likely to further impact Wilmslow Town Council as we endeavour to protect services important to Wilmslow and its residents such as the valued library and Leisure Centre services, and the CCTV service that the Town Council has already been supporting for a number of years".

"The Town Council is aware of the financial pressures faced by many families but feel that an increase of £18.62 per year for an average band D property, continues to constitute good value when compared to the national average of £85.89 and will ensure that the council can fulfil and enhance its role in 2025 and beyond."