HOUSEHOLDERS in Lancaster and Morecambe face rises in their council tax bills for next year it was confirmed this week. In what has become a depressingly familiar routine for many, tax payers will once again be asked to pay more while receiving less in certain services provided by both the City and County Council. The majority of the rise has been imposed by mandarins at County Hall who will set an increase of 14.5 per cent and critics have pointed to a £1.6 million cut in Lancashire's special educational needs budget as just one area where reductions could have been avoided.

Locally Lancaster City Council will be putting up its share by 5.9 per cent... that means the amount you paid to the city council this year will rise from £90.23 by £5.32 to £95.55. For home owners whose property falls into the band d category this means a hike from the current £731.32 to £822.32.

Despite this rise council leader Stanley Henig was generally upbeat about the figures.

"I think we have kept the rise to a minimum and have now got our base budget in line with capping figures and I think this year should be one of consolidation. I do believe very strongly in secure and sound finances."

Cllr Henig pointed out a number of areas where residents could expect to see growth in the future including the Poulton Regeneration Scheme, playground projects, proposals for Happy Mount Park and plans to extend recycling in the city.

"I think many people will feel that these ideas are very worthwhile," he commented.

Profits made from contracts won by the council's commercial services and building maintenance departments have helped to keep the rise down and Cllr Henig paid tribute to hard-working staff there. There will be slight variations in the figures for some parishes.

What do you think of the latest council tax rise? Are the city and county council providing good value for money or do you feel you are paying more for less? Write to our letters page with your views.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.