Looe Town Council has voted to increase the precept by two per cent for the coming year.

At a full meeting of the council, members heard a presentation on next year’s budget from Councillor Hendy.

The 2017-18 budget would be ‘very tight’ he said, adding that some increase in the town portion of the council tax was necessary in order to mitigate a 28.5 per cent cut in the Local Council Tax Grant.

This cut was much larger than the 10 per cent originally expected, it was noted.

Three options were presented: to increase the precept by either two, four or five per cent – and councillors voted almost unanimously for the lowest increase, which will take next year’s precept from £303,976 to £310,055.