SOUTH Lakeland council tax payers will see a 2.84 per cent increase in their district council precept over the next year after a Conservative bid for a nought per cent rise was defeated.

The ruling Liberal Democrat councillors said they doubted whether the Tories’ plan had been worked out properly despite the opposition’s claim that budget funding could come from making ‘better savings’ elsewhere.

Coun Graham Vincent, economic prosperity boss, said: “I get the impression the only thing that has been worked up in this proposal is the headline.” Outlining the £15 million budget for 2010/2011, Coun Andy Shine, assistant director of resources, said: “This is the lowest council tax increase in this council’s history. It equates to a weekly cost to each council tax payer of £3.38 a week. This budget should be put within the wider economic context — the outlook remains very uncertain.”

The budget will see £180,000 being ploughed into the reserves, a move which Tory leader Colin Hodgson called ‘immoral’ in light of the financial crisis. He said that £297,000 of savings could be made to help secure their nought per cent plan.

l RESIDENTS can now get an indication of how much they can expect to pay in council tax for the next financial year.

The bill is made up from four different elements. The lion’s share comes from Cumbria County Council’s slice. Members of the county council agreed to raise its precept by 1.9 per cent. Cumbria Police Authority agreed a 3 per cent rise and South Lakeland District Council have agreed a 2.84 per cent rise.

Owners of Band D properties in South Lakeland can now expect to pay £1,554.75 next year.

That is made up from £175.63 for SLDC, £1,161.50 to Cumbria County Council, £193.89 to Cumbria Police Authority and £23.73 to the parish councils.