Ashby de la Zouch Town Council voted in a favour of an increase in council tax last night (Monday) - with members saying a 58p a week hike is good value considering what the town gives its residents.

The full council met to decide on next year's precept of £745,825 following a report from town clerk Jack Fargher, which was presented to the finance committee at its meeting two weeks ago.

But it was a heated meeting at times with Conservative councillors clashing with Labour councillor Dave Bigby.

Only the Labour councillors did not vote for the proposals - they were against the council's budget and abstained when it came to the council tax figure.

Cllr Bigby again voiced his concerns at the 34 per cent increase - which he also did at the finance committee meeting, pointing out a leap from from £555,950 to £745,845.

However, he did accept that a rise in some form would be needed this year.

But he was accused of 'harping' and being 'dishonest' by Conservative councillor Nick Rushton, who suggested Cllr Bigby had not said what cuts to the budget he would make.

Conservative councillor Nick Rushton

Several councillors pointed to the fact that Ashby provides events and facilities that 'enrich the lives' of its residents - and that a failure to raise the precept would impact on that.

Conservative councillor Mike Ball said: "Our precept has matched inflation over the 17 years of this Conservative administration, our band D compares favourably with other councils in Leicestershire, we haven't done a bad job.

"We have an events programme envied by other towns in the county; we have the money in the bank to buy the Bath Grounds; we have the Prior Park fields, saved forever in our ownership; we own Legion House and don't pay any rent on it.

"Also, the monetary value of assets owned by the Town Council has increase from £750,000 in 2007, to £4.5million as at the end of the last financial year.

"We've achieved all of that without our precept galloping away above inflation.

Conservative councillor Mike Ball

"Yes, we're putting forward a big increase for next year, but we're in line with inflation over the length of our administration.

"What are the alternatives? We could set a lower band D and keep our fingers crossed; we could shut the museum; we could sack the ground staff and let our green spaces re-wild; we could cancel Christmas, cancel the Coronation.

"These are all things we could do. But they're not options for a responsible council, which I believe us to be."

Labour Councillor Dave Bigby

Cllr Bigby responded by saying he was disappointed by the town clerk's report.

He said: "If you want to cherry pick figures, the council's rise in precept over the last 10 years has been 5.7 per cent, whereas inflation has been 2.7 per cent. It doesn't help the argument.

"The Labour members will not support the budget, we accept council tax will need to increase next year."

He added that he wanted to challenge Cllr Ball with regards to being able to predict what would happen 12 months ago with the war in Ukraine and higher inflation and energy prices.

Cllr Bigby said: "We should have taken notice of what was going on and done something about it before the end of the financial year.

"Instead, we're saddled with a £115,000 overspend this year. I made several constructive suggestions about reducing expenditure.

"But it seems that we have largely been ignored.

The energy costs at Legion House in Ashby were a talking point. Photo: Ashby Nub News

"I asked why the recreation committee's mobile phone budget had increased by 60 per cent this year, but I didn't get a response."

Conservative councillor Dan Harrison responded by saying: "The events and activities enrich the lives of the people of Ashby, Cllr Bigby hasn't said he'd cancel Christmas, but who knows?

"He's ridiculed something which is a well-founded document from the clerk.

"We have to say we're proud of how we've conducted ourselves.

"There's no magic wand in all of this. The budget can be relied upon and it's welcomed. 

"I hope the people of Ashby will be happy we're maintaining standards."

But Labour councillor Liz Parle added: "In October, the finance committee resolved to allocate up to £20,000 towards essential insulation of Legion House - there's only £7,000 here and I feel it's too important to postpone that until after 2024.

"That's my disappointment with the budget."

Conservative councillor Roger Bayliss said keeping the precept low would mean cutting some of the town's 'big ticket' events and projects.

He added: "You could cut the £9,000 for Ashby Museum, that would close it down.

"The £7,000 that Cllr Parle doesn't want to pay for Legion House, we can cut that and carry on paying more expensive energy bills.

"But I am prepared to pay the 58p a week, I am an Ashby taxpayer. To keep all of those things running in the town, it represents excellent value.

"This budget balances the books."

Cllr Dan Harrison

Conservative councillor Gill Hoult added: "It wasn't easy for any of us to decide to have to put up the precept. But the people of Ashby and beyond have come to expect our events."

Cllr Mary Tuckey said: "To think about cancelling these events means taking into account the quality of life as well. The feelgood factor is very important at the moment."

Cllr Jim Hoult added: "The people who attend these events are also bringing money into the town in terms of trade with the local shops."

But Cllr Rushton responded directly to Cllr Bigby's remarks.

He said: "We have to set a balanced budget and to vote against it is dishonest, it doesn't tell people what you'd cut.

"It doesn't tell people how you would balance the budget.

"To sit there harping about various things is not an honest place as the so-called leader of the opposition.

"Nobody a year ago could have seen the events of this year. Labour always does this and you can't keep doing it."

Independent councillor Graham Allman added that the £30 per year added to the council tax bill is the equivalent of a week's shopping basket for pensioners.