TIDWORTH town councillors have voted to allow themselves “dispensation” to take part in the council’s budget and precept setting.

Legislation under the Localism Act 2011 repealed the general dispensation permitting any councillor with an interest to take part in meetings relating to setting their council’s precept.

With many councillors likely to be council tax payers for their area, most have a declarable pecuniary interest in setting a precept.

However, such councillors can request dispensation and at Tidworth Town Council’s recent meeting on December 4 they voted to grant themselves this dispensation.

Town councillors in Ludgershall were forced to do the same at their meeting on Tuesday evening.