Christmas and clean-ups lined up for funding boost in Newtown

Newtown’s Christmas celebrations could receive an extra £2,000 next year as councillors consider increasing funding for town events and clean-ups.

The proposals will go before Newtown Town Council’s Economy and Environment Committee meeting on Monday.

The draft budget would increase funding for Kicking Off Christmas from £11,500 to £13,500. Tidy Newtown’s allocation would rise by half, from £2,000 to £3,000, with clean ups planned for spring and autumn.

The Celebration of Newtown event would receive an additional £1,000, taking its budget to £7,500.

A further £1,500 is proposed for Newtown Food Festival, bringing its allocation to £36,500. Picnic in the Park funding would remain at £1,000.

The four increases would add £5,500 to the activities’ combined budgets, taking them from £55,000 to £60,500.

The draft work programme states: “The council emphasises there is a direct link between public service work and the public service funding to carry it out”.

The proposals cover the financial year beginning in April 2027, so the extra Christmas funding would be for next year’s celebrations rather than this year's event on 28 November.