WITH no debate and little explanation, Teignmouth councillors have approved a hefty hike in the town council budget.

They are precepting £226,100 from Teignbridge Council to run the town council for the coming financial year.

This compares with £190,000 for the current year, and means an increase of £5.76 a year, or 48p a month, for band D properties. Lowest rated band A homes will pay an extra 32p a month, and the top band H, 95p.

Band D residents will now be paying a total of nearly £40 a year to the town council.

This is on top of the council tax demands from Devon County Council, Teignbridge Council, Devon and Cornwall Police Authority, and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority.

The chairman of the finance and general purposes committee, Cllr Donald Baldey, refused to disclose the percentage increase, but a simple calculation gave a figure of 19 per cent.

There was no discussion, explanation or justification at the meeting on Tuesday. Members merely unanimously agreed to adopt the recommendation of a subcommittee which set the precept behind closed doors.

The report of the subcommittee states: 'The current spend and various related matters were reviewed, and in view of the fact that the auditor recommended that the reserves were far too low, the precept should be increased taking this in mind.

'A full and frank discussion took place on the need to provide for projects in the town that had been identified by residents.'

Grants were also approved for five local organisations – the twinning association (£150); shopmobility (£25); the ladies' barbershop singers (£100); Teenbridge Project (£250), and up to £100 to the Kingsway Parent and Toddler Group for play equipment.