Wantage Town Council has reduced its precept by more than £4,000 due to healthy reserves.

Councillors have also pledged £5,000 to Wantage Silver Band to help it build new premises at Wantage Football Club, and an extra £500 towards a war memorial in the town.

The extra cash was found after members abandoned plans to buy an allotment.

The precept -- money to run the council's affairs -- will drop from £114,750 for this year to £110,000 for 2003/4.

Wantage mayor Peter Kent said: "We also plan some work to repair damage to Market Square, as it's getting a bit uneven, and clean the statue.

"We've had a period of stability and the reserves have built up."