COUNCIL tax payers are facing a hike in their payment from April for the second year in a row as Westminster continues to slash local authority budgets.

The average increase will see households in band D paying an increase of £5 a year to £162.21, councillors recommended at a Craven council policy meeting on Tuesday.

It follows a similar rise in council tax last year after Craven had managed to freeze increases for five years. It came after the Government removed its council tax freeze grant,

The recommendation means that if full council approve the budget, residents will pay £3.12p a week for all the services, said Council Leader Councillor Richard Foster.

“We have continued to cut costs and increase income wherever possible and we have made savings of £141,000 over the last year. Given the huge pressures facing local government the council has done very well to put forward a robust and balanced budget.

“We are proud that we managed to freeze council tax for five years in a row, but we feel the best option to maintain services, is to increase it this year," he said.

At its meeting the policy committee unveiled a fully funded and balanced Revenue Budget of £6,962,165 for 2017/18. It has been recommended for approval at full council on Tuesday, February 21.

The proposed budget will be funded by the council’s projected revenues and a contribution from the council’s reserves. The council will maintain a General Fund Balance of £995k for unforeseen outgoings.