A MAJORITY of residents in Hyndburn face an extra £5.48 a year council tax from April.

The 4.9 per cent rise, which is set to be approved by Hyndburn Council's cabinet when it meets tonight , will increase the bill for a band A property from £111.92 to £117.40.

More than 60 per cent of the houses in the borough are band A.

With the county council and police increase, the bill for a band A house will rise from £732.21 to £800.92 -- an increase of 9.38 per cent.

Those in a band D property will pay £937 (£856 last year) to the county council, £176. 11 for local services (£167.88 last year), and £87.72 for police services - a total of £1,200.83.

In a change to normal procedure, the increase will go to cabinet first - council tax increases are not normally announced until full council meetings.

Acting council leader Jean Battle said that would give the opposition chance to present amendments at the next meeting of the full council.

The borough's increase was a result of consulting residents at a series of roadshows in the borough throughout January, she said.

"This budget is policy led and is a reflection of the openness and accountability of the council," she said.

"We have been out and about in the community and this budget is a direct result of listening to, and acting on, residents' views.

"This budget was formulated with our key aims of a cleaner, greener borough very much in mind.

"We are also confirming our commitment to the area councils, where local people are making local decisions about issues that matter to them."

The £11.5million budget will include an increase for most area councils, and a £159,000 fund to make the borough greener and cleaner will also be set up. The council is to introduce an overview and scrutiny officer at a cost of £29,200.

But opposition leader Coun Peter Britcliffe said the borough was dirty and area councils were suffering from staff cutbacks.

"Added to the increase from county hall I think it probably means people are going to pay almost 10 per cent more this year, which is a major blow to people in Hyndburn.

"We are paying more and getting less. There have been cutbacks in services over the last 12 months particularly area councils where staffing has been reduced dramatically, which has reduced the work the area councils are able to do.

"There has been a cutback in street cleansing, so we are getting dirtier streets. The litter commission that was established with £60,000 extra for cleansing, was abolished early on in the year."