Falmouth Town Council is proposing a 1.96 per cent increase on its budget for the next financial year, but calls for a public meeting before it is formally agreed next month have been rejected.

The draft budget was put before councillors Monday night and shows a precept of £1,695,574.96 - an increase of £58,138.81 on this year's. This increase equates to a rise of nine pence a week on a band D property or £4.75 a year.

Last year the council courted controversy by agreeing a 16.91 per cent increase, which was denounced by some councillors but was deemed necessary to pay for a variety of projects, such as taking over the library, One Stop Shop from Cornwall Council and creating a civic and community hub in the former Post Office building on The Moor.

There had been accusations from some members that the budget was being rushed through after they were presented with it only three days before the meeting.

This time, councillors had more time to digest its content before the finance committee was asked on Monday to recommend it for approval to the next meeting of the full council on December 12. Despite going through it page by page at the meeting when no complaints were raised, some councillors still thought a public meeting should be held.

Cllr Steve Eva said: "I am not against the budget - the figures are very good, but in principle I believe we should now put it to the people. If they have any problems with it, they can raise them and if they haven't I could put my hand up with a clear conscience."

Cllr Mathew McCarthy added: "I propose we call a public meeting to put this to the public to let them have their say. Until the people have their say I cannot back the budget."

Other councillors, though, stated that calling a public meeting and getting an independent chairperson would cost the council money and that any resident with concerns over the rise can contact their councillor direct to raise them.

Finance committee chair, Cllr Candy Atherton said: "People expect us to work for the best of the town. If it was over a ten per cent I would go to full public consultation, but our budget is way, way below that and less than two per cent."

Deputy mayor, Trish Minson added: "There is no way I am going to sit here and put through unnecessary expenditure that would have a negative impact on our pockets. I do not have a political axe to grind, this budget is as tight as we could make it - it's fit for purpose. Setting the budget is what the people elected us to do on their behalf."

The committee agreed by a majority vote to support the draft budget. It will now go before the next meeting of the full council and in the mean time councillors' contact details can be found at falmouthtowncouncil.co.uk should anyone wish to comment on it,