MALVERN Town Council's tax demand could be about to fall for the first time in its history.

The controlling group on the council, Malvern Town Action Group, this week outlined its budget aims after sweeping to victory in May's elections with the pledge to reduce the burden on taxpayers.

Members of MTAG have agreed to aim for a 7.5 per cent reduction for the coming year, equivalent to about £5.90 less per average household. The current bill for town council services, levied as part of the overall Council Tax, is £78.82 for an average Band D property. If the proposed figures are approved next month, it will be the first time Malvern Town Council's precept has dropped since the council was formed in 1995.

Coun Ralph Madden, chairman of the council's finance committee, said previous councils had "over egged" the precept they required.

"We believe those kinds of savings could be made," he said, "We now need to prove that that can be achieved and the officers have been set the task of looking at that."

Coun Madden said he hoped taxpayers would be happy with the reduction but that he hoped the precept would reduce further in the future.

"At a time when more councils are putting up their income any move in the direction of downwards will be appreciated," he said. "I think possible future savings should be achievable."

A key financial decision for the council in the future is deciding what to do with its offices on Belle Vue Terrace.

The purchase and refurbishment of the offices cost more than £600,000 and was one of sources of public disquiet which contributed to the formation of MTAG.

The building's future is currently being studied. Options include selling it off or letting out parts of it commercially.

The finance committee will submit the proposed budget to full council at a meeting on Tuesday, December 16.