Mid Beds District Council has recommended an average increase of £4.70 a year or 9p a week on its share of the council tax. This proposed average increase, to be agreed today (Thursday March 2), takes the council tax, for Mid Beds services only, to £99.8

Mid Beds District Council has recommended an average increase of £4.70 a year or 9p a week on its share of the council tax.

This proposed average increase, to be agreed today (Thursday March 2), takes the council tax, for Mid Beds services only, to £99.84 (for Band D) and £88.75 (for Band C) for the whole year.

The average council tax bill for 2006/07 for a Band D council taxpayer will be £1,326.98 not including money which goes to parish councils.

Council leader Tricia Turner said: "We have made more than £3m savings over the last four years on an annual budget of £12m, but Mid Beds still needs an increase of at least £4.70 (Band D) over the amount we charged in 2005/06 to meet the costs of delivering your preferred services.

"Without sufficient income the books won't balance. Without sufficient income we cannot afford the range of services as in previous years. Of our residents' priorities we are totally committed to delivering as much as we can as well as we can.