BETTER street cleaning is being promised if Newton Abbot Town Council increases its share of the Council Tax bill by a little more than 5p per day.

This is contained in a statement issued by the town council as it prepares its precept proposals.

The council says the additional 37.2p per week for a Band D household would allow additional staff to be taken on and address concerns that parts of the town aren’t as spick and span as people want.

’Cuts to budgets at Teignbridge District Council and Devon County Council are forcing Newton Abbot to look again at how services are delivered,’ says the council.

’Staff and councillors are familiar with complaints that weeds and graffiti are spreading, a common topic of debate at the annual Town Meeting held in Courtenay Street last October.’

Other priorities set by the Town Council include the ongoing provision of the Newton’s Place museum and community hub, grants for economic recovery, support for high street security and further improvements to Town Quay.

Its events programme includes the Victorian evening, town crier competition, Remembrance Sunday, lantern parade, autumn fayre, band concerts and carnival.

In 2022 the Town Council hopes to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and continue support of its allotments, the footpath network, Christmas illuminations, Newton in Bloom, plus the maintenance of Golden Lion Square, Jubilee Gardens and public toilets in East Street.

If the precept is approved by the Full Council on January 26 it would take the Band D charge to £126.89 per year. The equivalent in Buckfastleigh is £129.31, in Ivybridge £131.13 and in Teignmouth £142.85.

’We believe our proposals are proportionate and in response to the public’s demand for a home town they can be proud of,’ said clerk Phil Rowe.

’Our share of the overall precept represents good value and bear in mind that our Vision for Newton Abbot is to cement its role as the district’s business, community, food and cultural centre.

’To look only at a headline figure of a proposed 15.48 per cent increase in our share of the council tax bill would provide a skewed view of reality.

’We’re talking less than 40p per week, that’s not much for a clean and tidy town in which people choose to live, shop and work.’