FRODSHAM Town Council has managed to peg its 2013-14 council tax precept at last year’s rate by shelving a planned £3,000 project to improve toilet facilities at the Red Lion municipal bowling green.

Councillors, urged by former mayor, Andrew Dawson, reviewed spending plans and agreed to shave the money from the proposed annual budget to avoid a £1 rise in the precept levied on residents as the authority’s share of the overall council tax bill.

The council will look at replacing the project funding in next year’s budget, and Cllr Frank Pennington said bowling club members would be happy to continue using the pub’s toilets for now.

This means each typical Band D household in Frodsham will fork out £38.47 – actually 8p less than last year - to fund the town council’s approved 2013-14 budget of £148,800.

This will cover the council’s day-to-day running costs, including staff salaries of £44,000, community services managed by various committees and £11,800 funding for Frodsham’s designated Police Community Support Officer, £20,000 for community social enterprise company, Frodsham Foundation, and £5,000 for Frodsham Youth Association.

The council will maintain contingency and working capital reserves totalling £35,000.

Money already set aside from past precepts, savings and annual income, including burial ground revenue, will be used to fund an earmarked £50,000 capital project to redevelop community play areas, and discretionary capital projects, including £25,000 to purchase land for future expansion of the municipal cemetery, and £30,000 to help fund projects to improve Frodsham’s infrastructure and street scene.