THE price of a glass of wine per year – would that be worth it it to look after your town’s parks, pitches and public halls?

People in Witney will soon be asked to pay that much extra on their council tax to help fund upkeep of the town’s facilities.

The decision to increase the payment by about 8p a week was made “reluctantly” by members of Witney Town Council, and will see taxpayers paying an extra £4.10 per year to go towards services like allotments and cemeteries.

Chairman of Witney and District Chamber of Commence Lesley Semaine said she thought the increase was pretty good, considering what it could have been.

Mrs Semaine, who lives just one mile from her pub the Royal Oak, in Witney High Street, said: “I know the council work hard to pull in the reins. It’s no different to us budgeting our house.

“They have kept it steady, I think it’s pretty good. I’m not sure how they could improve. They have to look after the town in 101 different ways and I think that’s a very pleasing result.”

The extra income will see Witney Town Council receive about £40,000 more per year through their council tax precept.

Councillor David Harvey, chairman of the budget working party at the town council, said: “Members and officers have worked together to keep any increase to the bare minimum and the result is less than the cost of a glass of wine in a pub spread over the year.

“It is absolutely right for the town council to be taking a prudent view of its finances and this is in the interests of all the residents of Witney.”

Witney Town Council offers a range of services to residents, including allotments, community grants, cemeteries, sports pitches, public halls and more.

However, many of these do not generate any income and need constant re-investment to allow them to remain in use for the community.

The predicted cost of running these services for 2015/16 – including any income generated by hiring out public halls, burials and public events – is £1,246,518. Town councillors have increased the precept to keep these services running.

Council spokeswoman Polly Inness said the precept increase was down to a reduction in the Council Tax Support Grant, and other factors such as the costs of the upkeep of the closed churchyard at St Mary’s Church Green, which contains listed memorials.