Marlow will see another increase in council tax this year after councillors agreed the town budget on Wednesday night.

Councillors agreed to up the council tax per property to £51.24 for a Band D home, compared to the £48.58 fee last year, at a meeting of the town council on January 25.

The council precept was also increased from £322,797 to £341,467.

Last year saw Marlow Town Council’s first increase in council tax in seven years.  

Councillor Richard Scott said putting this year’s budget together was “quite difficult” and an increase in council tax was needed so they can continue to provide “excellent” services for residents.

The town council has seen no income from Gossmore playing fields, which have not been used since the Environment Agency started work on flood defences there, resulting in a £1,200 loss.

They have also lost £2,100 from the Wycombe District Council support scheme as local authority budgets continue to struggle due to a reduction in government funding.

Costs for community activities have also increased, including £1,500 per edition of council magazine, The Marlovian.

An extra sum of money has also been budgeted for snow machines for this year’s Christmas switch-on event, following the success of last year’s.

Cllr Scott said: “In recent years, we have found new ways to deliver existing services and introduced a number of improvements to our town, but finding further ways of doing this is becoming more challenging.”  

However, mayor Bob Johnson, said the town council was in a “healthy position.”

He added: “Any increase in council tax is disappointing, but at the same time, I think it is reasonable and I think it is manageable.”