A TOWN council has slashed spending on hospitality to bring down its share of the borough's council tax.

Clitheroe town council's share of the tax is to fall from £13 on a band D property last year to £12.37.

Ribble Valley councillors last month unanimously passed a 1.4 per cent increase in the tax - one of the lowest in the country.

The estimated bill for a band D property in the Ribble Valley now stands at £673.

Clitheroe Mayor John McGowan said the decrease in its share had been brought about "by keeping a tight rein on expenditure".

"We have managed to maintain spending on essential items, but kept a tight rein on expenditure on hospitality and administration. " he said.

"We get many requests from foreign tourists to visit our historic town hall, but we will have to reduce this service.

"I am very happy with our precept. We must be the only council in the country to reduce our taxes!"

The town council's budget includes spending on a millennium torchlight procession and an increase in the grant to the Roefield Leisure Centre.

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