On January 20, 2025, the Town Council agreed a budget of £1,324,115 for the 2025/26 financial year.
The precept increase will form part of the Council Tax along with the requirements of Somerset Council and Police. This equates to an increase in the Town Council element of £51.21 per year to a Band D property to £194.62.
Read More: Burnham and Highbridge council tax could increase 35%
According to the Town Council, if it did not take on the public conveniences, parks and highways/floral maintenance, it would lose them. Previously these services were managed by Somerset Council.
To assess the economic, social and cultural impact of losing key services in the Burnham & Highbridge area, the Town Council formed a Devolution Work Group to specifically address this situation, the advantages of increased autonomy and the additional financial responsibility.
With all this in mind, the Town Council agreed a budget which includes a projected income of £129,225, and expenditure of £1,453,340. The costs include the work of the Town Council to maintain the cemeteries, administer allotments and fund some of the key events in the towns including fireworks and Christmas lights.
The budget also covers the cost of certain public facilities such as CCTV, benches, tree & hedge maintenance, the Princess Theatre and the work of staff to support residents and visitors, as well as the award of grants of £32,700 to community groups.
Included within the expenditure are the additional costs in areas such as highways maintenance, floral displays, parks and public conveniences that have previously come under the remit of Somerset Council.
A spokesperson for the Town Council added that, “as the full extent to which Town & Parish Councils will have to take on additional public services is as yet unknown, the Council has decided it would not be prudent to draw down additional funding from reserves at this present point in time.”
“The Council have taken the difficult decision to increase our precept request this year to save essential services, that if lost, would be detrimental to the whole community and future success of Burnham-on-Sea & Highbridge. Throughout the process of setting the budget, officers and councillors have worked hard to prioritise the services most important to our community.”