COUNCIL tax payers in Blackburn with Darwen are set for one of the lowest rises in the country -- just 4.5 per cent.

And the councillor in charge of setting the rise today pledged that front-line services would be protected and jobs secured.

The 4.5 per cent rise compares favourably with other boroughs, which, as well as putting up their own precepts have had to contend with a 7.72 per cent rise from County Hall.

Because Blackburn with Darwen Council is a unitary authority, it sets the equivalent of borough and county precepts in one go, with the police authority the only mandatory extra on top. Several areas also have parish councils.

The 4.5 per cent rise will mean council tax for a typical Band D property in a non-parish area will rise to £1,058.92 from £1,010 -- making it one of the lowest in the North West. Of that, £73.86 will go to the police authority.

According to a budget report to be presented to the council tonight, the council has managed to save £600,000 by transferring many of its administrative services to private firm Capita -- the equivalent to £16 per bill.

As a result, the average council tax rise is £8 less than it would have been, with the equivalent of another £8 per bill being directed towards social services.

Councillor Gail Barton said: "This is a common sense budget which maintains service levels but makes sure that the council tax increase in Blackburn with Darwen is kept to a minimum."

It means the council should get £37.6million from council tax. They have a total of £160million to spend this year.

Coun Barton added: "The budget protects front line services, allows for inflation in pay and prices and secures jobs. There will be no redundancies.

"In education the full Government grant is being given to schools and we have made sure that we can respond to the growing demand for social services from older people in the borough."

Councillor Barton added: "This budget means we can have £15.8 million worth of new capital investment and that we have the money available to provide the necessary match funding for future external funding opportunities.

"The council has been able to set this common sense budget of £160 million, which gives us an additional £5 million to spend, because it has made full use of efficiency savings and real investment opportunities from the Government, European funding and private sector partners".

But the budgets set are lower than the amounts each department requested.

Hyndburn Council is predicting its council tax will rise by 7.7 per cent to £1,106.43 for a Band D property.

In Burnley, it also rises 7.7 per cent to £1,122.52, while residents in Rossendale can expect a seven per cent rise to £1,106.12.

Ribble Valley Council is predicting a 7.6 per cent rise to £1,052.79, and Pendle Council has stuck to 5.75 per cent, taking a Band D property tax to £1,111.69.

Blackpool Council, Lancashire's other unitary, has raised its council tax by just under 20 per cent to make up for the fact it did not put up taxes in its first year away from Lancashire County Council.

TAX BANDS FOR NON-PARISH AREAS IN BLACKBURN AND DARWEN:

Band A £705.95

Band B £823.61

Band C £941.26

Band D £1,058.92

Band E £1,294.23

Band F £1,529.55

Band G £1,764.87

Band H £2,117.84

INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET IS £19MILLION -- FROM COUNCIL CASH AND EXTERNAL BIDS -- FOR NEW CAPITAL PROGRAMMES INCLUDING:

£3.5million for house repairs

£158,000 for upgrading OAP homes

£550,000 to support improvements to Blackburn Museum

£!.285million towards the cost of rebuilding St Wilfrid's High School

£300,000 to buy buildings in the way of new roads