Hunstanton Town Council votes to keep its precept the same following hike in tax for second home owners

Hunstanton Town Council decided to keep its council tax precept the same following the introduction of the bill doubling for second home owners.

The town council debated on whether to increase, decrease or keep the precept the same.

The council precept is the amount of money the authority requires from its taxpayers to fund its annual budget and makes up part of the council tax bill.

Recently, West Norfolk Council made the decision that second home owners will be charged an additional 100% council tax from April 1 2025.

Cllr Wendy Croucher argued that Hunstanton has more holiday homes than other areas of West Norfolk, including Lynn and Downham.

She said that more precept money earned from second home owners should be invested in maintaining Hunstanton, as more tourists use the town’s facilities.

Mayor Michael Ruston pointed out that the precept has remained the same in the coastal town for the past 16 years.

Out of the approximately 3,500 homes in Hunstanton, 580 of them are owned by second homeowners.

All councillors voted in favour of keeping the precept the same.