Authority unveils 3.5% tax rise

Leicestershire County Council has proposed a 3.5% rise in its share of the council tax for next year.

This will mean the owner of an average band D property paying £35 more, taking the county's charge - which is about 75% of the final bill - up to £1,043.

The budget includes an extra £4.2m for adult social care and £1.7m to deal with waste, using £10.3m of savings - including £8.6m of efficiency savings.

It will be finalised by the full council on 25 February.

The draft budget also has £95m for capital schemes, including £79m of government funding for schools and transport schemes, design work on the Melton, Sharnford and Kegworth bypasses, refurbishment of libraries and respite care in Wigston.

Council leader David Parsons said: "Despite the credit crunch and major increases in our energy bills, we are proposing to protect key services to the community and reduce the increase in council tax bills compared with last year.

"I believe that, in the current economic climate, it's only fair that the county council works hard to keep its costs down."