MOST taxpayers in the Suffolk Coastal area will find themselves paying just seven pence more a week this year for the district's services.

By Richard Cornwell

MOST taxpayers in the Suffolk Coastal area will find themselves paying just seven pence more a week this year for the district's services.

The authority - which empties the bins, runs leisure centres and swimming pools, carries out environmental health checks and deals with planning among its duties - has agreed to a tax rise of just 2.9 per cent.

It will mean taxpayers in band D properties in the area, which includes Felixstowe, Woodbridge, Kesgrave, Martlesham and the Trimleys, paying £135.90 for Suffolk Coastal's share of the tax - a rise of £3.87.

The district council's share though is only ten pc of the total, and in addition they will have to pay Suffolk County Council around £1,035, Suffolk Police's £137 and some to town and parish councils.

Suffolk Coastal leader Ray Herring said: “We have kept our promise of keeping our council tax rise below three per cent despite the government's continuing failure to fairly fund rural districts.

“This will now be the 11th year in a row that we have kept to single digit increases and keeps our position as one of the lowest charging districts in the country.

“A further £850,000 of efficiencies and increased income have had to be identified, bringing our grand total since 2001 to £7 million. But we have also managed to protect services and invest in improvements.

“We have listened to our residents and will be offering more and better recycling services, will work to make this an even safer district, and will develop and promote green policies and improved environmental management across the district.”

The council set a budget of £14.4m. Priorities for spending include housing, coastal protection, recycling and strengthening the area's economy.