TAXPAYERS will pay less cash to Middlewich Town Council from April 1.

Town chiefs have agreed to reduce the council’s tax precept for the second time in two years.

It means that residents living in a Band D property will pay £75.28 for 2019-20 – a reduction of almost £10 from this year’s £84.90.

Cllr Bill Walmsley, mayor of Middlewich and Middlewich First member, said: "It's good to see the precept coming down again this year.

"This is part of a concerted effort by the town council to deliver value for money to Middlewich residents.

"In the past we have had to take on Victoria Hall and other assets and this caused the precept to rise for a year or two but we continue to look for savings in all areas.

“This work is ongoing and I think Middlewich Town Council has been very successful, especially when other areas are seeing increases."

The total precept figure for 2019-20 is £366,394 – down from £410,755 this year.

The overall budget for the year comes to £455,890 – including £14,250 for Christmas lights, £12,000 for community safety and £10,000 for the FAB Festival.

A total of £50,000 is ringfenced for reserves – including £33,000 for the possibility of funding a second PCSO.

Cllr Jonathan Parry, Labour member of Middlewich Town Council, added: “The reduction is something we have been pushing for a long time because it has been way too high.

“We want to make sure the precept is as economical as possible to ensure that something is given back to residents and we are very pleased we have got a reduced precept.

“This will be important – especially in a year when Cheshire East Council is looking to increase its tax again, this will help to cushion the blow.”

The new precept marks a significant change from two years ago, when Middlewich ratepayers were faced with the second-highest parish precept in the borough.