A NEAR four per cent council tax increase has been approved by Cumbria County Council.

It was confirmed at a full meeting of the local authority in Kendal that from next year council tax will rise 1.99 per cent with an additional precept of two per cent to help pay towards adult social care.

People living in Band D properties face paying an extra £49.15, taking their CCC share of the council tax bill to £1,281.02.

The decision was made against a backdrop of continuing austerity with the council having to make £198 million in savings between April 2011 and March 2017. CCC still needs to find further savings of nearly £52 million over the next three years.

It follows on from the recommendation made by cabinet on February 2 and also follows a formal consultation process, which ran from October 20, 2016 to January 20, and in which two thirds of respondents were in favour of the approach taken.

CCC's deputy leader Patricia Bell said plans to deliver savings were on track while maintaining a balanced budget.

"This year’s budget is being recommended to full council following several years of sound strategic planning which has seen the council modernise, transform, and downsize," she said. "We have and continue to invest in future services in Cumbria; one new care home has already opened and a further two state-of-the-art care homes are on the way, for the people of Cumbria.

"Although many decisions have been difficult, this year’s budget shows what can be achieved with robust savings plans and effective strategies. We are on track to deliver the majority of savings we require to deliver a balanced budget this year.

"We have worked hard to protect front-line services across the county and to ensure that local residents continue to get the best possible value for money, and today’s budget recommendation is a reflection of that."

L Eden District Council has agreed a council tax rise of 1.99 per cent from April 2017. The local authority will be charging the residents of an average Band D property £190.75 a year in Council Tax in 2017-18 for the services it provides such as bin collections, recycling services, street cleaning, public toilets and supporting arts provision.