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Fakenham swimming pool scheme will require council to raise taxes by 60%




A flagship scheme to create a new swimming pool in Fakenham has led to an extra burden on people’s wallets as it has forced councillors to raise taxes by 60%.

Fakenham Town Council has said it needs to put up its precept - the amount of money it raises through council tax - by £226,075 this year.

This is primarily due to the £11million ‘FLASH’ Project, which will create a new pool and other leisure facilities in the town.

How the new swimming pool and leisure centre in Fakenham could look. Picture: North Norfolk District Council
How the new swimming pool and leisure centre in Fakenham could look. Picture: North Norfolk District Council

For this to go ahead, the Trap Lane Pavilion, which generates revenue for the council through hire fees, will be lost.

The town council’s depot and storage area also has to be bulldozed to make way for the site and will need to be replaced.

Other costs that have caused taxes to go up are the expansion of the Creake Road cemetery, which is becoming full, new CCTV equipment, and other increases such as National Insurance contributions and pay rises.

At a meeting last week, a member of the public asked why the council had agreed to give up land to make way for the project without recompense.

He asked: “We are funding part of this project and will lose assets - what has been offered to Fakenham Town Council?”

Town clerk Lesley Meanley explained in a report to councillors that the precept rise was necessary to “address several crucial projects that will enhance community service and ensure long-term sustainability”.

“These projects are essential to the wellbeing of our community, and the precept increase will enable us to meet these immediate and future needs effectively,” she added.

“Your contribution ensures we are able to provide safer, more sustainable, and well-maintained services for everyone.”

The higher taxes will come into force in April.

North Norfolk District Council also intends to raise its council tax by 3%.

The increases in detail are:

• Pay and National Insurance increase – £21,500 (10.7%)

• Admin services – £4,150 (28.8%)

• Insurance – £2,500 (55.5%)

• Legal costs (related to the FLASH project) – £7,000 (233%)

• Professional fees (related to the FLASH project) – £3,000 (150%)

• Meeting expenses – £2,500 (410%)

• New CCTV contract – £14,000 (233%)

• Estate expenses (related to the demolition of pavilion, depot and cemetery expansion) – £94,350 (192.5%)

• Loss of income – £16,200 (35.5%)



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