Investing in Nailsea – Nailsea Town Council Announces its precept for 2025/ 2026

Part of the council tax bill is called a precept. This is a local tax that enables Nailsea Town Council to deliver positive things for the area.

Nailsea Town Council has been working exceptionally hard to keep the Precept element of Nailsea residents Council Tax as low as possible, in very difficult financial circumstances.

You will be aware from the local news that North Somerset Council (NSC) has been struggling to fund their budget deficit. NSC has reached out to all four Town Councils and asked them to take on various services and assets that they are no longer able to fund and would have to cease providing or remove. This has included removing bins from around our town centre and closing play areas to the public. We could not let this happen to our Town and have taken the decision to cover the costs of the bins and play areas amongst other things.

We understand that many of you will be asking ‘why can’t NSC continue to look after these assets and services? Why do we have to pay to get the Town Council to manage them instead? The bottom line is, without the Town Council’s support many services will be withdrawn. There is a positive outcome from the Town Council taking on assets and services and that is, we can invest in them and improve them for the town, which is something we have wanted to do for many years.

Cllr James Tonkin Chair of Nailsea Town Council said “Through prudent financial management including paying off our Public Works Board Loans for the Tithe Barn, No. 65 High Street and the Glassworks sites, plus utilising interest from the capital receipts from the sale of land at Engine Lane, we have managed to off-set some of the increased costs to our residents, keeping our precept increase to £13.65 on a Band D property or just over a £1 a month. This is an increase of 14.5% from last year. We do appreciate that this is a large increase for many of our residents, and we have not taken this decision likely.”

“Next year we are likely to see our Precept increase again and possibly quite significantly, as we take on managing more assets from NSC. Nailsea Town Council plan to spend the precept over the next year in five main areas. Community, Environment and Leisure, Planning and Administration & Finance. As well as a precept Nailsea Town Council also generate an income of over £46,115 from room hire at No 65 High Street and the Tithe Barn as well as bank interest which all support a smaller precept for Nailsea residents.”

Investing in our community

65 High Street

This is a welcoming community venue with a focus on health and wellbeing plus wellbeing opportunities. No. 65 is currently the base for the Nailsea Disability Initiative, Citizens Advice and the Towns Youth Club as well as many other local groups and services. No 65 also has a range of rooms available to hire for local organisations and businesses at reasonable rates.

Supporting local organisations

The Council is proud to award £70,705 in grants and £33,366 in community support for worthy causes.

Nailsea Tithe Barn

The Council is responsible for the daily management, caretaking and booking of this stunning venue which also houses the Town Council Offices.

Town Security

In partnership with NSC, Nailsea Town Council has invested in a network of cameras in key areas of the town such as the Town centre and the main roads into the Town.

Communication

The Council has invested in communications to improve engagement with local residents. We also look after our own website, nailseatowncouncil.gov.uk.

Environment and Leisure

Green spaces and biodiversity projects

Nailsea Town Council contributes towards the maintenance of some your most cherished green spaces and public rights of way such as the Millennium Park, Lyons Green and Golden Valley Bridleway.

Keeping the Town clean and maintained

This covers everything from street cleaning to the emptying of dog bins. We maintain Hannah Moore Park, The Glassworks site, Spilsbury Wood, The Grove, Village Green and Golden Valley Bridleway. We fund NSC at the moment to maintain Millennium park. We also support the upkeep of spaces like the skate park and some street furniture throughout the town.

Annual Christmas Light Display, Improvements in the town centre, Bus shelters and street lights

Maintenance

Other investments include bench repairs, hanging baskets, notice boards, cleaning and repairing Town Council owned bus shelters, as well as maintaining and running the five street lights we own.

Staff Costs

We have staff, finance and administration costs to run the services that we provide. The team will be expanding to enable us to take on the management of NSC assets

Finance and Administration

There are also finance and administration costs such as audit fees, bank charges, insurance, membership, licences and professional fees.