Holsworthy Town Council will be levying a precept of £212,800 in the coming financial year to pay for the ongoing running costs of the town council.

The precept is collected on the town council’s behalf by Torridge District Council and the town council’s share of the precept represents an increase of £2.08 per month for a person paying the full Council Tax Charge on a Band D property compared to last year.

However, 77 per cent of the properties in the Town fall in into Council Tax bands A to C and will therefore be paying less than this.

Holsworthy Town Council own and manage most of the recreational green spaces as well as five public footpaths in the town. The Council also run and organise several community events throughout the year. Its budgeted expenditure is more than £254,850 for 2025/26 versus an estimated income of £42,050.

Councillors felt that in the context of very real threats to some of the frontline services which are maintained by the district and county councils in the town (e.g. emptying of waste and dog waste bins, toilets, counter service, grass cutting, highways maintenance etc.), it was imperative to levy a realistic precept.

The local precept covers the upkeep of Stanhope Park along with Badock and Rowland Gardens, as well as the management of the weekly Pannier Market, and events throughout the town including the very successful Christmas Switch on.

Councillor Nigel Kenneally, mayor of Holsworthy said: “During 2024/25 the Council has been involved in many projects throughout the town such as improving part of the paths in Stanhope Park, repairing some of the play equipment, the commemorations of the D Day Landings, improving the CCTV coverage at the Skateboard Park, a Mayors Charity event in Badock Gardens and provided necessary technical upgrades to ensure Council business continuity and security.

In 2025/26 projects for the Town Council include replacing some of the play equipment in Stanhope Park, the VE/VJ Day commemorations in May, refurbishing and upgrading the Sun Lounge in Badock Gardens,working with partners at Torridge District Council to progress a Playzone multi use games area in Stanhope Park and working with Holsworthy Football Club and the Football Foundation to resize the pitch and improve the Club house for use by all the community.

“Other projects to be pursued in 2025/26 include the provision of allotments, renewing some of the play equipment within Stanhope Park and the continuance of working with partners including Torridge District Council and Devon County Council to progress an off-road cycle path between Bude and Holsworthy and the refurbishment and reopening of Coles Mill Viaduct. Funding for projects will be pursued sourcing external funding as much as possible.”

In setting the council's budget for the financial year ahead, the town council has kept expenditure down to a minimum and endeavoured to make as many savings as it can within the town budget. Councillors will continue to weigh up the cost of any expenditure against the benefit to the community.