THE increase in council tax for South Gloucestershire's residents remains a mystery this week, as cross-party councillors could not agree on a sum.

Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Labour councillors took six hours to decide that the budget-setting meeting on Wednesday should be adjourned.

Despite initially agreeing that tax be increased by the Government-recommended 3.8 percent, the three party leaders would then not compromise on a list of priority projects to spend close to £4million of unallocated funds on. They have now decided to hold the meeting again next Wednesday.

In a joint statement by the party leaders - Cllr Neil Halsall (Liberal Democrats), Cllr Roger Hutchinson (Labour) and Cllr John Calway (Conservative) - time was simply said to have run out on the six hour marathon meeting.

The statement said: "At tonight's council meeting each party presented a comprehensive budget.

"Because of the complexity of each proposal the final details still needed to be resolved when time ran out. As a result a decision was taken to adjourn the meeting for a week.

"The total budget of £256,131,000 has been agreed, leaving some unallocated funds to be apportioned at the subsequent meeting next Wednesday."

Home-owners can still expect council tax to be raised by 3.8 percent for 2005-2006 - meaning people living in a Band C property will pay £902 and those in Band D will now pay £1,015.

The far smaller increase than last year - which saw a tax hike of 6.8 percent - is believed to be due to an anticipated May election.

The stalemate over what to spend the £3,939,000 on was the result of political party preferences.

The Conservatives continued their fight for a Winterbourne bypass by proposing £60,000 be spent on the new road.

They also asked for an increase in pensioners' discounts on bus services. Liberal Democrats wanted money to pay for the collection and recycling of plastic bottles.

Cllr Dave Hockey said: "Curb-side collections of plastic bottles is critical to make the twin-bin system work."

The party also wanted £100,000 to pay for increased CCTV surveillance and £25,000 to open Yate Library on Sundays.

Cllr Mike Drew said: "It is one of the major libraries in the whole district and opening it up to a group of people who cannot currently use it is a fantastic idea."

Labour's priority was to expand home healthcare for the elderly and to employ two extra occupational therapists.