WEYMOUTH and Portland Borough Council looks set to limit its council tax rise to less than seven per cent.

Members of the council's management committee voted to recommend a rise of 6.91 per cent after approving a package of savings worth £291,176.

Councillors had been preparing to debate a rise of just over seven per cent, but a series of one off adjustments in the government grant resulted in the slight reduction in the borough's share of the tax.

Council leader Anne Thomas said she was happy with the rise, calling it necessary and sustainable. After congratulating fellow members of the committee for their work, she said: "An awful lot of work has gone into this, and committee members have conducted a rigorous process of examination. After last year's large increase we did have a great deal of work to do regain public confidence, and this package is part of that."

If the rise is approved by full council later this month, households in Weymouth and Portland will see the annual charge for a band D home rise by £13.81 per year to £213.74.

Islanders also face an increase in the Portland Town Council charge of £7 per year. In voting for the increase, committee members agreed to a package of service cuts and initiatives that included keeping open two £28,000 arts development and museum officer jobs, reduced hours for tourism development work, increased fees charged to Dorset County Council and staffing reorganisations in the highways department.

Councillor Howard Legg argued that the arts and museums positions should be combined and the post filled.

But members refused to vote on the issue, calling instead for a business case to be made for the post and debated at a later date.

The measure - put forward by the economy and regeneration committee - was rejected by the committee after the publicity manager Peter Gilmour pledged to identify £13,000 of extra income for the council. He said he and his team would be breathing a sigh of relief.

"It's good to know the significant work we do for the council has been recognised," he added.

The council's public service workers union branch secretary Chris Moscrop sat in on the meeting. He warned that employees would face renewed pressure on working hours as a result of some of the measures.

The recommendation goes forward to be debated at a meeting of the full borough council on February 28.

Dorset County Council's precept - currently £913 and making up more than 75 per cent of council tax bills - is expected to rise by less than seven per cent.

The final figure is to be debated by cabinet members before being submitted to the whole council on February 12.