THE average council tax bill for Burnley next year will be just over £1,000 after councillors agreed one of the lowest rate rises on record.

Councillors agreed an increase in the property charge of 2.5 per cent, which will rise to 4.5 per cent because of levies applied by the county council and fire and police authorities.

The total charge for a Band D property for 2006/07 will be £1,388 and the average charge, before any discounts, £1,059. The most common charge for a Band A house will be £952.

Council tax payers in Padiham, Cliviger, Worsthorne and Habergham Eaves will pay a slighter higher charge because of the precepts of the town or parish council.

Burnley Council's executive member for Best Value and Resources, Peter Kenyon, put the budget to a special meeting of the council last night.

He said: "The increase of just 2.5 per cent is just half the level at which we would be capped by the Government and as most of our residents live in Band A properties, the additional amount that they will have to pay for Burnley services amounts to just seven pence per week.

"To the charges levied by the borough council there must also be added those of the county council, the police and fire authorities.

"We are disappointed that these other bodies have not been able to rein back their demands to the extent that this council has managed.

"We believe that the overall increase in council tax is very reasonable."

Coun Peter Doyle, leader of the Conservatives, said council tax had gone up 130 per cent since first introduced.

The council also agreed part of its capital budget, including plans for a car park on the site of the soon-to-be-demolished Thompson Centre, refurbishment of Padiham Market and £10,000 for projects in each ward.