THERE is good news for Llanidloes residents going into the New Year, as their rates will be going down in 2012.
Town councillors voted at their December precept meeting to reduce their budget by £15,000, which means that local residents will be paying £88.62 towards their local services as part of their council tax, the clerk said.
Llanidloes has traditionally had a relatively high rate of council tax in Powys but at the precept meeting some councillors were concerned that they had trimmed the rate too much.
Speaking after the meeting, the mayor, John Whittal-Williams, said: “For the first time in a long time we have a reduction in the rates.
"There was a great debate that we had trimmed the cost too much, and while it’s true that some other projects could come along in the mean time which needs funding, I say give a reduction to people when they most need it.”
Council tax in Powys was below the Welsh average in 2011-12, with those in Band D paying £50 less than their counterparts in other counties.
During the precept meeting councillors also pledged to give money to local causes, including £600 to the struggling Dial-a-Ride service, £100 to the local Scout group and around £2,500 to the Lollipop Committee which helps school children to cross the road.