FENLAND Council has settled on a 3.9 per cent rise in Council Tax for next year but with an expected five per cent demanded by the county council, average increases will be in the region of £63. Final budget figures went before the district council yester

FENLAND Council has settled on a 3.9 per cent rise in Council Tax for next year but with an expected five per cent demanded by the county council, average increases will be in the region of £63.

Final budget figures went before the district council yesterday (Thu) and show that with both the county council and police authority looking for five per cent rises, the average bill for Fenland's tax payers will rise by 4.9 per cent.

Mat Taylor, the council's executive director for finance, said there had been extensive consultation in Fenland over this year's budget.

Various public meetings and town and parish councils had been asked for their view and two thirds of respondents agreed with the proposal for a 3.9 per cent rise.

He also presented councillors with an updated capital programme which shows the council will have spent £7.195 million this year on capital projects, plans to spend £6.681 million in the coming year, and £1.460 million in the following two years.

However none of these figures include allocation of the expected £19 million due later this year from the transfer of Fenland's housing stock to Roddons Housing Association.