PORTLAND Town Council has met the deadline for notifiying the borough council of its new precept charge.

The town council has to officially inform Weymouth and Portland Borough Council of decisions made about the precept and there was surprise that this was not done immediately.

At a meeting last Tuesday, councillors scrapped a controversial decision to increase the precept by 1,000 per cent amid an island revolt and voted on a new figure of 1.99 per cent.

The decision was greeted as a 'victory for the people.'

Town clerk Ian Looker said he had informed the borough council by telephone but some documents were required which he was arranging to be sent this morning.

Mr Looker, who works part-time, said he had other priority work to complete last week including putting together agendas for two council meetings tonight and tomorrow. The meetings have been arranged to conclude outstanding council business which was not completed at last Tuesday’s council meeting. Extra items for discussion have also been added.

Tonight’s meeting, which is open to the public, will take place at Easton Methodist church hall at 7pm.

Mayor of Portland Les Ames said the borough required accurate details of the changes which had taken place on the island regarding the precept and this had to be done in a particular way.

Councillor Ray Nowak said earlier he was ‘gobsmacked’ the town council hadn’t formally notified the borough as the deadline loomed.

A spokesman for the borough council said the authority had now been officially informed the precept had changed to 1.99 per cent.

The spokesman said the deadline for notifying the borough council was the end of today.