Investing in Nailsea – Nailsea Town Council Announces its precept for 2024 / 2025
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.
Cllr Anita Smith Chair of Nailsea Town Council says
‘Our part of your council tax bill you receive from North Somerset Council allows us to deliver services for the area. This includes community projects, services provided at Nailsea Tithe Barn & No 65 High Street, keeping the town safe and clean; as well as funding local community projects and groups. Our part of the North Somerset community charge is just 4% of a household’s total bill and in real terms the increase of 3% in 2024/25 which puts around £3 on a household’s average council tax bill.’ See video of Anita here
See Video of Cllr Ben Kushner Chair of the Finance Committee here
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Nailsea Town Council plan to spend the precept over the next year in five main areas. Community, Environment and Leisure, Planning, Administration & Finance; and Staff costs.
As well as a precept Nailsea Town Council also generate an income of over £124,000 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. No. 65 is celebrated nationally as a flagship project and 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 £64,296 in grants and £30,300 in community support for worthy causes. We are supporting the Nailsea Youth Club, North Somerset Citizens Advice, Nailsea Farmers Market, Nailsea and District Community Transport, Nailsea Leg Club and many other community organisations which are all benefiting Nailsea residents.
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. We work with the Tithe Barn Trust to ensure that the Barn is available for groups within the local community who provide educational, social, spiritual and recreational services for the benefit of local residents, one such example is the Memory Café.
Town Security
In partnership with North Somerset Council, 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. CCTV maintenance and up keep is managed centrally by North Somerset Council to help keep Nailsea residents safe.
Communication
The Council has invested in communications to improve engagement with local residents. We also look after nailseatown.com and 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 and Golden Valley Bridleway. We will continue to look at how we can improve the biodiversity through environmental projects covering tree planting, woodlands and Nailsea in Bloom.
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 North Somerset Council 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
Nailsea Town Council’s Christmas lights complement those provided by Praxis who manage the Crown Glass Shopping Centre in the Town.
Planning
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
Similar to other organisations we have staff, finance and administration costs to run the services that we provide. This includes the Core Office Team of finance, administration, reception, communication and project management staff.
Finance and administration
There are also finance and administration costs such as audit fees, bank charges, insurance, membership, licences and professional fees.