Some City councillors are talking of raising the City precept from £90 a year to £115 – a 28% increase, to fund some ‘grandiose’ schemes. I will NOT support raising council tax to this level in this current climate.

The City council must make efficiencies, just like everyone else has had to do. With rising utility costs and wage freezes, people just don’t have any spare cash to throw at any extravagent council. If this means cutting unnecessary things, then so be it.

The council is about to spend £800,000 on a new roof for the Guildhall, just three years after a £1.2million refurbishment. As a City dweller, you will be paying for this for years to come! The Guildhall, after any income, runs at about a £108,000 deficit a year. This is paid for only by council tax payers within the City.

Ask your councillor if they support raising the council tax to this level. They’ll have to justify their position if they say ‘yes’.

For information: Wiltshire council is likely to freeze their share of the tax in 2014.