COUNCILLOR Tim Munro said it is 'time to move forward 'after Portland Town Council's failed bid to increase islanders' council tax precept by 1,000 per cent.

Speaking at a meeting of Portland Town Council tonight, he said: "It was a mistake.

"The fault, and it may be mine, was suggesting we get all the money in one go.

"We've now come to 1.99 per cent on the precept, it's not because we didn't listen, we went through the process."

Cllr Munro said the council could 'move forward' by arranging for the official qualification of town clerk Ian Looker.

Councillor Richard Denton-White's motion to appoint a press officer for the council was accepted by chairman Cllr Les Ames and deferred to the next meeting on March 19.