RESIDENTS in Stratton can look forward to a reduction in their council tax precept.

Members of Stratton Parish Council decided to reduce the rate, which pays for services like the provision of recreation and the upkeep of parks and cemeteries, by £107.48 for a band D property, which equates to a 1.21 per cent reduction on 2010/11. The precept was finalised at a meeting on Monday, £851,650 being levied for 2011/2012.

Coun John Foley said: “Although for the last six years ward councillors have been saying to us we are here to help Stratton reduce their precepts this reduction in the budget was not down to help from them at all. We spent a long time to get this.

“This is a historic moment in my memory – this is the first time in 30 years that we have reduced it.

“If we had the same subsidies as Wroughton or Highworth parish councils for their recreation and leisure facilities we could reduce our budget by £8,000.”