PRUDENCE is likely to be the watchword when Bridport town councillors decide next year's budget.

At their meeting next Wednesday members of the finance committee are expected to vote for only a modest rise in the annual precept - adding at most 6p a week to the average council tax bill.

The council's finances are in a healthy position, with an anticipated end of year surplus of £834 and a bank balance of around £325,000 - up some £32,000 on the previous year.

Town clerk Ron Gregory suggests the council has three options for 2003/04:

 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 says the first option to keep the budget broadly the same as this year is an attractive proposition - but one not without risk. It would leave little room for manoeuvre and there would be no reserves for unexpected expenses.

"It is not prudent financial management to simply aim for a break even budget," he warns in his report to councillors.

Options two and three, producing anticipated surpluses of £5,463 and £10,323 respectively, represented modest increases but did achieve a better balance between risk and prudent financial management, he said.

The committee will hear that the most significant changes in expenditure next year will be:

 An £8,365 increase in the contingency budget

 A £4,000 reduction in the transport budget

 A £1,000 reduction in the Welcome signs budget

 A £2,500 reduction in the cost of tourism literature

And on the income side there would be an increase of around £4,000 from the council headquarters at Mountfield.

The report reminds councillors that it has already identified capital spending of some £200,000 as its quarter share to restore the town hall and £25,000 towards the St Mary's Playing Field Football Club project. This would still leave it with £100,000 in the bank - a figure previously agreed by the council as a prudent working balance.