LEIGH Town Council has voted to reduce the rise in its share of the council tax bill but will still be demanding an extra £6.55 from voters.

The town council initially proposed to raise its precept – an extra sum added to Leigh residents’ council tax bills each year – by 22.3 per cent to £44.46 but councillors voted to reduce this to an 18 per cent rise.

Chairman Richard Herbert, who has made it his mission to streamline the council since coming to office last year, proposed savings of £8,100 to the council’s budget which were subsequently passed.

There was not unanimous agreement, however, with councillors Pat Holden and Paul Laurence opposing a further £50,000 being raised for the council’s £100,000 capital projects fund.

This is set aside for developments such as a planned outdoor gym in Bonchurch Park, the refurbishment of Strand Wharf and yet-undecided projects such as the proposed rebuilding of Leigh Skate Park.

Mrs Holden said: “Asking for another £50,000 from our taxpayers for unknown projects is, I feel, a bit off.”

However, Carole Mulroney said such projects were the whole reason the council existed.

She said: “If we don’t have aspirations for Leigh, what on Earth are we sitting around this table for?”