There is to be no change to Narberth Town Council's precept for the year 2002/2003, it was confirmed this week.
When members met for their monthly meeting on Tuesday night, it was agreed that the precept should remain at £26,000, although some amendments were made to the budget sheets.
Included in the reshuffle was a saving of £400 on the running costs of the Town Hall. This fund now falls to £100, but the hall's building maintenance reserve remains at £1,000.
There was also no alteration in the £2,500 earmarked for the burial ground or the £10,000 allocated for the Christmas lights. However, the finance sub-committee recommended the Christmas lights sub-committee should meet to discuss alternative means of funding and obtaining substantially larger donations towards the costs. This was subsequently agreed.
The Queen's Hall room hire and the environment improvement fund also stayed the same at £500 and £1,200, respectively. However, there was an increase of £300 to the miscellaneous donation fund, which rises to £1,800.
Councillors remained firm in their commitment to making donations of £1,500 each to both Bloomfield and the Queen's Hall, despite a suggestion from Clr. Brian Harries, who felt that the two groups should now be 'self supporting', while the swimming pool will receive a gift of £250.
Other principal spend items include £5,000 to cover the clerk's salary, clerk's expenses and Mayor's expenses, which rise by £200 to £1,000, although councillors have made a saving of £500 on secretarial expenses.
There was also a £500 increase in the civic functions allowance, which goes up to £2,000, while the the contingency fund stands at £1,000.
After considering the budget sheets, members accepted the recommended precept.