COUNCILLORS in Clitheroe claim they will have bucked the trend after increasing their share of the Council tax by only one per cent.

Tax bills in East Lancashire look set to rise by six per cent next April and council leaders are predicting cuts in services.

But Clitheroe Council has voted for a mere 42p a year increase in its share of the Council tax and will be delivering services as normal.

Mayor of Clitheroe, John McGowan, said: "Whatever the increases that Clitheroe taxpayers will be facing, town councillors can hold their heads up. Councils don't need to spend all this money. Clitheroe Council will be delivering its services and making its donations as normal, all at a cost to householders of under a penny a week."

The 42p a year increase in the precept for a Band D house was given the thumbs-up at a meeting of the council's finance committee.

The Ribble Valley Council has been given extra money to spend from Government coffers and is yet to set its precept.

But the final picture for taxpayers will not become clear until Lancashire County Council works out its share of the bill.

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