COUNCIL tax payers in Bridport will be asked to fork out, on average, an extra 6p a week towards the town council's budget from next April.

Members of the finance committee agreed the "prudent" rise at their meeting on Wednesday. Councillors were presented with three options by Town Clerk Ron Gregory.

 To increase last year's precept of £243,000 by a marginal sum of £7,290 to offset predicted deficits. Because of extra housing in the parish this would mean no actual rise in the council tax charge for residents.

 To increase it by £12,150 which would mean around 3p a week extra for taxpayers.

 To increase it by £17,010 which would result in a 6p a week addition to the average taxpayers' bill.

Mr Gregory told the committee the first option to keep the budget broadly the same as this year was attractive proposition - but one not without risk. It would leave little room for manoeuvre and there would be no reserves for unexpected expenses.

And he told the committee he was becoming increasingly "nervous" about a couple of "unknowns" - especially the likely evolvement of the Coastal and Market Towns' Initiative into a company which would have some unknown core costs.

Coun David Tett was a lone voice in proposing the 3p a week rise. He said local taxpayers should not be asked "for a penny more than is absolutely required." He said to do so would be "totally wrong" especially with the impending increase in car parking charges, coupled with a rise in both the county and district precepts.

But the committee heard that option 3 would produce a £10,323 balance - a vital cushion against the unexpected. Coun Sandra Brown said she was very worried that any less could leave them in trouble if they were called upon to put more cash in the Coastal and Market Towns' Initiative.

"I think 6p is still fairly small beer," she added.

Deputy Mayor Henry Samuel said they should go for the higher amount simply for their own safety.

Mayor Geoff Ackerman said 6p would not make much difference bearing in mind the county council was set for a 20 per cent increase.

Chairman Coun Roger Draper said they could also face the loss of considerable interest on their capital if they were called on stump up their £200,000 share towards the town hall renovations in the coming year.

Coun Charles Wild stressed the need to back the local groups working on the Market and Coastal Towns Initiative and the Bridport community initiative.

"We need to support the enormous amount of work put in by the voluntary groups over the last 18 months into projects which are starting to take shape," he said. "They deserve to be supported."