RESIDENTS in West Somerset are likely to see a rise in council tax over the year 2015/16 as West Somerset Council sets the budget for the next financial year.

Cabinet have recommended that the council raise the council tax by 1.99%.

For the average Band D property, the council tax will rise to £140.56 a year, an overall increase of £2.74 a year or 5p a week.

The rise is to accommodate for a reduction in government funding for local authorities.

In 2014/15, the council approved a Council Tax freeze but now council taxes across West Somerset will “have to increase”.

Deputy Leader of West Somerset Council Kate Kravis said: “If we increase the council tax by the price of a teabag, then it will help the council balance their budget. This way, we won’t have to dip into our reserves which we have had to do over the past few years.”