COUNCIL tax bills for services provided by Taunton Deane Borough Council will go up by a total of £5 for the year starting in April.

The 3.3 per cent rise will see the district authority's part of the overall bills increase to £154.62 for the average Band D property.

The cash will help fund services such as waste collection, environmental health and planning.

It represents around a tenth of the overall council tax collected, with the bulk going to Somerset County Council, which is responsible for education, social services and highways,  and other contributions going to police and fire services and town and parish councils.

Deane House leader Cllr John Williams (Conservative) said the council is proposing to continue its investment in boosting the local economy as part of its budget plans for the year ahead.

He said the council embarked on a major investment programme some three years ago, allocating £16.6 million over five years towards its growth and development ambitions.

Mr Williams added that the investment is due to continue in the year ahead with money earmarked for:

Taunton Strategic Flood Alleviation - The allocation towards the Flood Alleviation project has been increased to £5m in line with the Council’s commitment to flood relief, by reallocation from the Urban Extension project.

•Major Transport Schemes – overall allocation increased from £3.5m to £3.9m. •Town Centre Regeneration - overall allocation increased from £2.5m to £3.05m to enable the delivery of major Town Centre schemes, such as Firepool and Coal Orchard.

•Employment sites, enterprise and innovation –overall allocation of £3.5m.

The investment is continuing despite the council seeing its overall funding – Government grant, New Homes Bonus (NHB) and business rates income – all reducing.

The Government Revenue Support Grant has been reduced by £365,000 (57%), NHB by £470,000 (12%) and retained business rates by £13,000 (0.4%).

Mr Williams said: “Thanks to prudent housekeeping in the past, we are still able to commit to our pledge to invest in our economy despite seeing such significant decreases in funding.

“We will be able to set a balanced budget in the coming year despite the challenges we face, without the need to cut services.

"We have delivered substantial savings through our partnership with West Somerset Council - £1.8m annually – and we will be able to increase this by a further £3.1m a year through changing the way we work and, if approved, creating a new, single council.”

He said the council tax increase will raise an additional £207,000, which goes towards protecting vital services for the community.

Council tenants look set to see their rent fall by 1% - from an average £82.52 per week to £81.69 per week in 2018/19.

Mr Williams announced plans to continue investment in the council's stock of nearly 6,000 homes through a housing capital programme with £8.973m budgeted for 2018/19.

Major Works include:

•Bathrooms: This is for the replacement of bathrooms as and when required.

•Heating systems: The replacement and upgrade of boilers and heating systems.

•Fascia, soffits and rainwater goods: This is for replacement where necessary.

•Fire safety works: This is to fund works identified in the TDBC action plan.

•Insulation: The upgrade of insulation, for example cavity wall and loft insulation in homes.

The budget for the Social Housing Development Fund is for new development and/or the redevelopment of housing. This budget represents an ongoing programme averaging 15 units a year. For 2018/19 this is increased to £2.03m.

The budget proposals will be considered by the Council’s Corporate Scrutiny Committee on January 25, the Executive on February 8 and the final decisions will be made by Full Council on Thursday, February 22.

The LibDem opposition is due to discuss the proposals this evening.

Somerset County Council announced last week that it intends to bump up its council tax demand by 5.99 per cent - adding almost £70 to the average annual Band D property.