Councillors in Keighley are set to approve a rise in council tax to sustain support to local organisations against a backdrop of public sector spending cuts.

Keighley town councillors are due to vote on proposals to increase its share of council tax by 2.5 per cent at a meeting on Thursday.

Earlier this month Ilkley Parish Council was criticised after councillors voted in favour of an almost 20 per cent rise in its council tax precept to fund the town’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The move sparked controversy with one councillor standing down in protest.

Keighley Town Council originally planned not to increase the precept but council clerk Miggy Bailey claimed it would be difficult to sustain support for local organisations without the increase.

The council would also use the extra cash to promote the town during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic Torch parade later this year.

Keighley town mayor Tony Wright said: “It is important to support local organisations. It is the only way that people who are out of work may get some support. We have an acorn fund which helps people get together to start a community group so that kind of funding is very important.

“The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics in England are probably once in a lifetime events. There hasn’t been a diamond jubilee since Queen Victoria’s reign, so it is a question of whether we want to celebrate them or not. Is Keighley going to be the only place in England that does nothing this year?

“The Olympic torch will actually come through Keighley on a Sunday so there may be a chance for national showcasing. I personally think it will be worth a bit of investment to make the route look good or hold a party. If we can do that we might get good publicity for the town and encourage people to visit in the future.

“These are the things councillors will need to consider when they are making their decision.”

Councillors in Keighley will vote on the plans at its meeting at Keighley Town Hall from 6.30pm.

In February last year, town councillors agreed not to increase the precept for 2011/12. They voted for a total budget of £392,750, which amounted to an annual charge of £24.30 for band D properties.

Last month’s meeting of the council’s finance committee agreed not to raise the precept but Mrs Bailey said the National Association of Local Councils is in favour of a 2.5 per cent rise.

She warned that without an increase it would be harder to support organisations at a time when Bradford Council is making massive cuts.