COUNCIL tax will rise by 2.5 per cent across the Stroud district, it was confirmed at a meeting last night.

However, not all councillors agreed with the decision.

In a vote to increase council tax by 2.5 per cent this year, 29 councillors voted for the recommendation, 14 against and six councillors abstained.

The increase will amount to around £4.30 extra a month for a band D property.

Cllr Dennis Andrewartha (Lib Dem), district councillor for Cam, said he would not vote for a rise that would see pensioners struggling to pay the bills.

He said: "I cannot support a budget that puts a great burden on people. The pensioners in the district cannot afford to pay more."

He continued: "I live in a band F property, which costs me around £2,000 a year and I can afford to pay that.

"But the service we receive has been reduced so much in my ward I question whether I should pay the tax at all."

Cllr Chas Fellows (Con), leader of Stroud District Council, said: "This year there is a very tight Revenue Support Grant and this year's budget setting was very challenging indeed.

"However I am pleased to say we have seen the completion of our neighbourhood warden scheme. Also the council will continue in its obligation to improve and deliver health services to our residents."

The council also agreed to raise council rent by 4.9 per cent to bridge the gap between Housing Association and council rent and to increase garage rent from 38 per cent to 60 per cent.

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