More CCTV, Christmas lights, grants and new equipment for holding meetings in a pandemic are all included in Maryport council’s budget.

The budget cannot be confirmed until the town receives - and knows what it is getting - its annual grant from Allerdale council.

However, the finance committee, which comprises all councillors, set a provisional budget on Monday which which would raise £359,250, an increase of £3,160, This equates to a rise of 0.9 per cent. Town clerk POaul Bramley said for 75 per cent of householders that would be an increase of 82p a year.

The council hopes to spend £18,000 on additional CCTV around the town centre, provided Cumbria Police can provide monitoring.

Additional Christmas lights will be bought for £15,000.

The council also hopes to spend £15,000 would be spend on more display boards on Shipping Brow depicting aspects of the town’s history.

Mr Bramley said the existing ones had proved popular with a growing number of visitors to the area.

A further £15,000 would be put towards a larger heritage display feature at the southern entrance of the town.

PA total £25,000 has been included to fund environmental improvements including flower beds and displays in Flimby and Maryport.

The council is also planning to pout £13,000 into upgrading its website and improving the meeting equipment that has become essential when face-to-face meetings are no longer possible.

A significant amount is given out in grants each year.

With some exceptions the maximum amount given is £250.

The council is to look at revising that policy so that more grand funding is available to organisations and events and has budgeted an extra £15,000.

Some of this is already earmarked to support the establishment of a sea bin on the Flimby coast.

Mr Bramley said the budget was based on the counl’s priorities which included providing an attractive town for residents and visitors, making it an active town in which people could take pride.

It aimed to provide a town where people could participate in achieving these goals and, finally to promote Maryport to others.