TOWN councillors in Leigh have vowed to find savings across the board with possible tighter budgets for security measures at Manchester Drive allotments and new bus shelters.

Leigh Town Council has begun working on its draft budget for next year, which currently includes a potential council tax rise of 14.26 per cent.

The proposed increase of £2.85 in the precept, would see Band D residents paying £25.85 per month towards the town council’s coffers.

Members of the council’s finance and general purposes committee are determined to minimise or negate the rise by cutting back budgets across the council’s work.

Individual committees will be re-examining their budgets over the next month, with sums currently earmarked for projects such as provision of new bus shelters, the final phase of the new Christmas lights and a new fence at the Manchester Drive allotments all set to be discussed again.

At a meeting on Tuesday, Jerry Holden, councillor for Leigh Road ward, said: “I know the allotments are desperate for the fence, but at the moment I am afraid we are going to have to say it has to wait.”

Alongside the cuts, extra cash could be allocated to budgets such as community affairs, which councillors want to support to help local charities and projects struggling after the recent Government cuts.

The council tax for Leigh comes on top of the amount paid to Southend Council, Essex Police and Essex Fire and Rescue.

It helps pay for a range of services provided by the town council, including the switch-on of the Christmas lights, the community transport scheme for local elderly and disabled people, and the skate park on Leigh Marshes.

A final decision on the precept will be made early next year, but discussions on savings will continue in the short term.