A WEST Somerset parish council has found a way to buck the trend and has cut its bill for council taxpayers this year.

Councillors in Nether Stowey did so despite facing increasing costs and taking on extra services from Somerset Council.

A spokesperson said: “We have found a way to reduce the budget, saving an average household about £12 per year, 9.7 per cent.

“We have done this by careful management, and by successfully applying for grants to meet costs that would otherwise have come from the budget.

“The parish council are conscious that money is tight for everybody and we hope that this will go a small way to help offset the big increase that Somerset Council and other bodies are hoping to put on their part of the council tax bill.”

The spokesperson said the parish council still has funds left in its budget to make grants to local organisations which benefit the Nether Stowey community.

Groups which want to apply for financial support have only until February 28 to do so because grants have to be awarded before the end of March and the start of the new financial year on April 1.

The spokesperson said: “To qualify, you must show how your group or organisation benefits the area or the residents of the parish.

“You do not need to be a registered charity, but usually your organisation must generally be open to anybody to join, although there are certain exceptions.

“The application form and guidance are available on our website or from the office.

“There is a finite pot of funds, so qualifying grants are offered on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.”

Anybody who needs advice on how to apply should contact parish clerk Caro Slaymaker by calling 01278 733779 or visiting the office in Castle Street for a chat.