BRIDPORT Town Council has achieved ‘quality’ status and can now take on more responsibility.

The fact that it is a quality council means it already provides more services than most and they come at a price, councillors heard at their full council meeting.

The comments came as they voted on whether or not to accept a recommendation to raise the council tax from £119.47 to £132.94 for a Band D property.

The increase – of 11.25 per cent across the board – was agreed by councillors.

This would give the council a budget of £445,517.

Council leader Martin Ray, pictured left, said they had three options setting the budget – to have a budget that would see services cut, a 26p-a-week increase on council tax bills that would balance the figures and allow for all current services to continue or an additional 45p on residents’ bills and an extra £20,000 on the books.

Coun Julian May said quite a few residents were not happy about the increase, but fellow councillors defended the rise.

Mayor Coun Dave Rickard said: “It is very clear that as a town council we are being expected by the district and county to take on quite a few of their functions.

“I see that as us taking on some of their work.

“Therefore it is only natural we have to raise some of the money more locally.”