THE annual precept set by Cardigan Town Council has been frozen for the third year in a row.

A resolution was passed by members at the annual budget meeting that there would be no increase in the town Council tax for the financial year 2019-20, consequently the precept remains at £83,995.47 for the third successive year.

On the above basis, the precept for 2019-20 will be calculated at £46.45 for a Band D property council tax. This equates to £3.87 per month.

The Band D council tax for other Ceredigion towns for 2018-19 was set as follows: Aberystwyth £89.25, Aberaeron £51.74, Lampeter £43.70.

Ceredigion County Council has withdrawn its garden and parks service and the town council has now taken on the responsibility for the planting of bulbs and flowers in Victoria Gardens in addition to the street flower pots and tubs.

Other projected expenses included finger-post signage replacements, the production of new interpretation boards at six local locations featuring attractively-designed, updated maps of the town by the artist Lisa Hellier; the introduction of an innovative app and wi-fi for the town centre which will benefit tradespeople and assist shoppers; repair work to the surface of the skateboard park and the considerable investment in play equipment for the Pentop Playing Area as a safe and exciting avenue for the children of that district.

The Town Council and 4CG partnership will continue to ensure the opening of town centre public conveniences, although vandalism has taken its toll on more than one occasion.

The reintroduction of four CCTV cameras in the town centre is on-going with the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner and should be up and running this year.

Grants received towards the Pentop Play Area amounted to over £13,000 during the financial year.

The council marked the centenary of the end of the First World War by producing a souvenir leaflet for the remembrance service held at the Cenotaph at which Côr Undebol Ar Ôl Tri gave a poignant rendition of “In Flanders Fields”; in addition, a permanent poppy memorial was manufactured and stands alongside the war memorial.

To date, more than £20,000 has been donated to a number of charities and local. The beneficiaries include Gwyl Fawr Aberteifi, Cardigan Memorial Hall & Swimming Pool, Barley Saturday Show, Cardigan Carnival and the River & Food Festival; numerous other smaller clubs and institutions have also benefited.

Expenses incurred at King George V Playing Field during the past year amounted to £3,565. During his year of office, the present Mayor, Cllr John Adams-Lewis, has chosen Cardigan Swimming Pool to benefit from the Mayor’s Fund.

In addition, the past Mayor Cllr Richard Jones’ “Mayor’s Fund” for 2018-19 provided funding for the Swimming Pool and Cardigan Carnival, with each allocated £1,500.

The town council financial accounts for 2017-18 were inspected and approved by Grant Thornton UK LLP on behalf of the Auditor General for Wales on August 16, 2018 – all regulatory requirements have been met.