Sandwich residents face a rise in Council Tax - but it's not yet known what it will pay for.

A suggested precept increase - which will go before town councillors for debate on Monday evening - is understood to be 17%.

The town clerk has confirmed a rise is on the table but remains tight lipped over what the extra public money will be spent on until after Monday's meeting.

She has denied it would fund renovations to the Guildhall Forecourt.

Town clerk Laura Fidler said: “The finance committee has recommended a precept increase and this will be considered at the council meeting on Monday.

“As well as the finance committee considering the draft budget there was also a working group consisting of the mayor Cllr Veronica Liote, Cllr Paul Graeme and Cllr John Bragg who met three times to consider how the budget could be shaped.

"This group did not have any powers and all their ideas were fed back to the finance committee for consideration.”

In this area, a 'precept' is a charge collected on behalf of Dover District Council, Kent County Council, The Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent, Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority and parish councils.

Residents in Sandwich currently pay £84.32 per Band D property per year but if the 17% increase is approved, that figure will rise to £98.84 - an extra £14.52.

The council highlighted that the number of properties in Sandwich has been reduced.

The proposed rise comes after both the The Heritage Lottery Fund bid for work inside the Guildhall and Coastal Community Fund bid for the Forecourt Project were unsuccessful. The redesign of the forecourt was previously described as a “once in a generation opportunity” aimed at making the medieval town more suitable for 21st century living and attract more tourists, particularly the disabled.

It is hoped to be completed in time for The Open golf championship in 2020 in Sandwich.

Ms Fidler added: “Both Sandwich Town Council (STC) and Sandwich Toll Bridge Fund (STBF) remain firmly committed to both projects, as does the entire ‘A New Vision for Sandwich’ board and alternative funding is being sought.

“Discussion did take place in the council chamber as to if/how STC/STBF could provide some funding.

“However funding for neither project is confirmed or included in the draft 2019/20 budgets.”

*This week, KentOnline's sister paper The Mercury printed that the proposed rise would add up to £280 to a householder's bill. This figure is incorrect and we'd like to apologise for the error.