EARBY Town Council is set to hike its precept by 42 per cent to fund a number of public services.

The council, which nearly doubled its precept last year to fund public toilets, agreed on Monday to increase its precept from just under £48,000 to £68,185 for the 2015/16 financial year.

A portion of the increase will be used to fund maintenance and upkeep of five play areas and four bus shelters, services which are currently provided by Pendle Council.

"Nobody likes to put up the precept, but Pendle Borough Council made it categorically clear that if town councils did not take on the playgrounds and bus shelters these services would disappear," said Cllr Chris Tennant, chairman of Earby Town Council.

The five play areas in question are two on the Northolme estate, one near the waterfalls at Birley Playing Fields, one on Rushton Avenue and a new play area and multi-use game area (MUGA) on Cemetery Road.

Cllr Tennant also said that a significant chunk of the precept would be used to fund a £29,000 capital investment project to develop the former Pendle Council offices, on Victoria Road.

The project would involve developing the building as part of the Parish Rooms and the work is likely to include upgrading the upstairs business units.

Cllr Tennant said: "The project is pending approval of the Department of Communities and Local Government, but all indications are that this will be forthcoming."

Within the budget, he said the town council is allocating £3,500 in match funding, which in conjunction with the West Craven Area Committee, Pendle Council or local businesses could be used towards extending the Parish Rooms car park to create more town centre parking or re-instating some Christmas decorations.

"As part of next year's budget, we'll also re-pay £4,000 of internal borrowing and we've allocated £4,500 to reserves," said Cllr Tennant. "The reason we £4,500 in reserves is because after this year's May elections, we'll have to pay for town council elections or a referendum.

"I think we've done pretty well considering our support grant from Pendle Council has been cut in half to £5,000," he said. "Next year it will disappear completely."