A BIDFORD man has blasted his parish council for raising its precept for the second year in a row, at a time when other parishes in Warwickshire were lowering theirs.

Duncan Hodgkins, from Marleigh Road, said the council was “a law unto themselves” after its members decided to increase this year’s precept – which forms a part of the overall council tax bill – by £2,500.

The latest increase follows a decision last year to increase the precept by 29 per cent, or £45,500.

By comparison, Shipston Town Council lowered its precept for 2011-12 by £19,000; in Stratford it was reduced by about £9,000; while in Alcester and Wellesbourne the precept remained unchanged.

Mr Hodgkins said: “What is it this year that makes Bidford once again go against the grain? Have the plethora of pensioners who sit on the council no idea of the real world? No doubt the council will state that no one turns up to its meetings.

“Surely by now they get the message that no one turns up because the council don’t listen and are clearly a law unto themselves.”

Bidford Parish Council revealed through its budget statement for 2010-11 that it raised the precept last year to mitigate the impact of the recession. The large increase also allowed for local projects – such as replacing the skate park – to be completed.

Council clerk Elizabeth Uggerløse said that despite the fact this year’s precept had increased by £2,500 it would have no bearing whatsoever on the rate residents paid as more people had moved into the parish and the precept would be spread among a greater number of ratepayers.