COUNCIL tax for the average household in Calne is to rise by five per cent despite the town having the highest charge for a band D home in Wiltshire last year.

Councillors voted that for a band D home, the middle of seven tax bands, council tax will rise for the first time in four years from £199.94 to £210.33 in Monday’s full council meeting.

The proposal to increase the precept from £1,039,984 to £1,122,660 was passed with ten votes for, four against and one abstention.

The five per cent rise, which equates to 20p a week, is due to a decrease in grants from Wiltshire Council, which were covering a reduction in the number of houses paying council tax.

Wiltshire Council figures show that Calne’s band D charge in 2014/15 was the highest in the county at £199.94, £10.13 more than Royal Wootton Bassett, the next most expensive.

Town clerk Linda Roberts said the council provides significantly more services than many other councils, citing Beversbrook Sports Facility, the Town Hall, the Heritage Centre, play areas and allotments as examples.

The 2015/16 budget was recommended to council by the Finance Working Group but Coun Derek Warnett has resigned from the group because he felt it had not debated the issues thoroughly enough.

Group chairman Coun Glenis Ansell said: “We have been assessing the budget since February. I think we have done a robust job, I am happy with the committee.”