NEYLAND Town Council will be raising its precept for 2014 by £5,000, to pay for changes to the rates for its offices.

Councillor Simon Hancock said the rate increase was beyond the council’s control, and the precept was only being raised to cover this new cost.

The precept, which will now stand at £63,801, is part of each householder’s council tax bill, and pays for the Town Council’s annual running costs.

As part of investment planned by the council this year, £3,000 will be used to ensure the public toilets at Brunel Quay stay open.

The toilets were among 26 facilities across the county earmarked for closure unless local funding could be found.

Cllr Hancock said it was essential to ensure the facility remained open for locals, disabled people, and visitors.

New signs will also be erected on the Honeyborough roundabout, celebrating the town’s recently established link with Sanguinet, in France.

And two new CCTV cameras, which will cover the Brunel statue, the entrance to the marina, and Brunel Quay car park, have also been purchased.

Cllr Hancock said there had been some incidents of antisocial behaviour in the area, and that any deterrent to crime was to be welcomed.