Didcot Town Council is to step up action to combat antisocial behaviour and vandalism, which has plagued the town during the past year.

It has earmarked £5,000 to fund a third of the running costs of CCTV cameras which will be provided in the town centre by South Oxfordshire District Council.

The town council is also budgeting for £18,000 to continue paying for two community wardens to patrol the Civic Hall and Didcot's parks and recreation grounds at weekends.

It unanimously approved spending budget of £611,274 funded by precept of £544,274 from South Oxfordshire District Council and £67,000 from the town council's repairs and replacements reserves.

The town council's portion of next year's council tax bill will be £67 for a average, band D property -- £5 more than this year.

Following antisocial and vandalism problems, finance chairman Margaret Davies said the priority for next year was community safety.

"We will be consulting with residents early in 2004 on a range of issues such as community wardens, CCTV for part of Broadway, antisocial behaviour and vandalism," she said.

Other issues include litter and measures to combat dog fouling.

The consultation will also involve community groups such as Neighbourhood Watch schemes.

But while the town council has pledged to continue to employ two community wardens, council leader Mike McNulty said it hardly scratched the surface of the problem of antisocial behaviour across the town.

The two wardens had helped dramatically reduce problems around the Civic Hall where a CCTV system is now installed.

Youths have previously damaged the hall, parked cars and disrupted events taking place inside.

Mr McNulty said the council was now campaigning for community support officers.