Westbury Town Council is a 3rd tier consultative body primarily responsible for representing the community’s view to government, either national or local. It does this in a variety of ways such as by responding to planning applications, highway schemes, road maintenance plans, leisure and recreation facilities or government / local government consultations such as bus and rail services, health services and local waste strategies etc.
Additionally, the Town Council has tax raising powers and collects annually with the Council Tax receipts, a ‘local tax’ known as the ‘local precept, to pay for enhancements to town facilities. A few highlights from an extensive list include: community grants, public benches, public toilets, play park equipment, contributions to road maintenance schemes, civic planting schemes, Christmas lighting and community events. In 2018/19 the town precept was £629,552.00.
The town council is currently preparing to negotiate with Wiltshire Council regarding the transfer of street scene and place-based services such as the amenity grass-cutting, litter bin collection, community allotments and town assets. It is not anticipated that these negotiations will lead to a transfer until the end of 2019 or the spring of 2020. When that happens, it is likely that the cost of operating these services will account for at least 45% of the council budget.
