AVERAGE council tax bills for people living in Taunton Deane are set to go up by £87.79 in the year from April.

Taunton Deane Borough Council members are meeting on Thursday to vote on a recommendation to demand a 3.38 per cent increase in the amount it collects from residents to pay for services such as planning, waste collection and environmental health.

That will take Band D bills to £152.88 over the 12-month period, a rise of £5.

Somerset County Council, which is responsible for education and social services, is asking for £1,103.15, a £33.63 or 2.99 per cent increase, along with £76.17 for social care.

We'll have to pay £193.81 for policing, up 6.6 per cent from the current year's £181.81.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service will cost Band D payers £84.01, rising 2.99 per cent from £81.57.

The Deane's £1.74 demand and the county's £12.84 for Somerset Rivers Authority remain the same as the current payments.

Added to our bills will be fees to run town and parish councils, with the average ask £19.74, a hike of 5.22 per cent from £18.76.

That means the total Band D bill will be around £1,644.34, a 5.64 per cent increase on this year's £1,556.55.