THIS year's council tax looks set to rise by an inflation busting nine per cent.

The local authority has had to make substantial savings to balance the books after it received a below inflation grant from central Government.

This week the Cabinet recommended that the revenue budget be set at £17.894 million for the next financial year which would put balances at around £1 million, an improvement of £300,000 on last year.

Taking into account County Council increases and also the Police Authority, the final bill increase is expected to be just under nine per cent higher.

The tax level will be discussed by the full council on February 13 and formally set by the council at its meeting on February 27.