BISHOPS Cannings and Roundway Parish Councils have increased their council tax precepts for next year with above inflation rises.

Bishops Cannings wanted to put up its precept by 183 per cent, or £33 a year, to fund the running costs of proposed new sports and community facilities, but this was rejected by villagers who vot-ed two to one against in a poll.

The parish council met last Wednesday and abided by the decision of the poll, which had a 60 per cent turnout.

Parish council clerk Eric Clark said: “A lot of us were surprised about the outcome.

“It’s a little disappointing and a challenge for the parish council to think about how we move forward on funding the running costs of new facilities, for which the capital money would have come from Section 106 funding from developers.”

As a result the parish council’s budget for next year remains the same at £16,000, but the council tax precept has been increased by 14 per cent, just over £3 a year, to £22 for a band D property.

Mr Clark said: “By putting up the precept by 14 per cent, we are not funding the budget from reserves.”

The parish council’s grant funding from Wiltshire Coun-cil amounts to a cut of £240.

Roundway Parish Council has increased its council tax precept by ten per cent – a rise of £3.86 for a Band D household – up to £42.29.

It has lost £1,000 in funding from Wiltshire Council due to the cut in support to parish councils. Its budget for 2014/15 will be £83,224, up by just over £9,000 on 2013/14.

The council will be spending £26,000 to finish the new allotments off Green Lane by putting in a pumping system to supply water to the allotment holders.

Another £25,194 will be spent on its share of the cost of administering and maintaining Devizes Cemetery.

It has also set aside £1,000 for new waste bins and £1,000 for First World War centenary events.

Last year it increased its council tax precept by 34 per cent, the main reason being to fund the new allotments.

Parish council chairman Chris Callow said: “A ten per cent increase or 32p a month in the council tax precept is a relatively modest rise.”

n Devizes Town Council is due to set its budget and council tax precept for next year tonight.