A HIKE in the council tax for South Somerset residents has been approved by councillors.

The full council of South Somerset District met last night and agreed to increase council tax by 1.95 per cent.

As well as the council’s increase, the Somerset Rivers Authority will also charge and extra 1.25 per cent in a bid to raise money to improve flood defence schemes.

When put together, this is an increase of just £4.73.

However, when added on to the 3.26 per cent rise for Somerset County Council, 1.99 per cent for Avon and Somerset Police plus an extra 1.99 per cent for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue service, this means Band D households in South Somerset face paying an extra £64.11, £1569.96 in total.

Councillor Peter Seib, portfolio holder for finance at South Somerset District Council, said: “I'm pleased that we've once again been able to settle a budget in difficult circumstances, and one which protects our taxpayers from the worst effects of the local government finance changes.

“Going forward, the council is investigating new ways of working to try to further reduce delivery costs whilst protecting local services.

“This will be difficult, but it's essential given the clear direction from central government that we have to survive without grant from 2020.”

The council has said that the main reason the increases have been introduced is due to increasing austerity measures introduced by central government.

The Government has reduced the support grant it gives to councils, eliminating the grant completely by 2020.

For SSDC this means a cut of more than £1m this year and by 2019/20, total savings of £4.1m will be required, including an additional penalty of £330,000 having to be handed back to central government.

Efficiency improvements have meant that SSDC's spending has fallen significantly.

In 2008/09 the annual budget was £19.7m and the proposed 2016/17 budget is just £17.3m.

This represents a cut of 28 per cent after inflation.

SSDC has targeted new savings of £1.3 million for 2016/17 including staffing costs of £365k, income generation of £703k, and savings on our assets of £83k.

The individual amounts, based on a Band D property, are as follows:

                                                      2015/2016      2016/2017

                                                       £                      £                 %
South Somerset District Council        147.75             152.48             3.20
Somerset County Council (SCC)       1027.30           1060.84           3.26
SCC Adult Social Care                       0.00                 20.80               
PCC for Avon & Somerset                 174.78             178.26             1.99
Devon and Somerset Fire and           78.42               79.98               1.99
Rescue Authority

*Total excluding parishes                £1428.25         £1492.36         4.49

Average of Town/Parish precepts      73.34               77.60               5.81

**Total including average parishes       £1501.59         £1569.96         4.55