SOUTH Lakeland District Council (SLDC) has voted to increase its share of the council tax bill by 2.8 per cent.

The Liberal Democrat-controlled authority said the move would mean no cuts to frontline services as it approved its budget last week.

This is the first increase in SLDC’s part of the Council Tax for six years, and equates to a £5 annual increase on a typical Band D property.

The council’s estimated £1.4 million costs in relation to flood recovery work will be met from general reserves.

The authority also approved a revised Council Plan, emphasising its targets of enabling 1,000 new jobs and 1,000 affordable homes to rent by 2025.

There is a new target of 500 sites available for self-build homes.

The updated document also includes plans to:

l Work with government and the Environment Agency on tackling flooding issues

l Extend kerbside recycling of plastics and cardboard across the district

l Promote cycling and enable safe cycle routes to work and school

l Support the regeneration of town centres

l Encourage more festivals and events.

The council also vowed to plan for major strategic infrastructure and road improvements, including a Northern Development Route for Kendal, and lobby for improvements to rail services.

The plan includes ambitions to increase the number of apprentices working at the council.

SLDC is also aiming to reduce energy use through efficient management of land and buildings and wants to help local communities and individuals access advice to develop micro-renewal energy generating projects.

SLDC Leader Cllr Peter Thornton said: “The extra £5 a year on a Band D property bill equates to less than 10 pence per week and is consistent with the government’s expectations.

“It is a modest increase after five years of a Council Tax freeze and allows us to protect front line services yet continue to deliver service improvements and provide extra support for the district’s economic development.

“The recent extensive flooding directly affected 2,000 homes and 450 businesses and the effects will continue to be felt throughout the coming year. We will be talking to government and the Environment Agency about how we can avoid a recurrence, especially in areas that have flooded before in recent times.

“We will roll out kerbside recycling of cardboard and plastic across the whole district and will encourage people to recycle more so that the amount of waste sent to landfill is reduced.”

The budget and Council Plan were approved with 34 votes for and 12 against. The opposition Tory group voted against the proposals but did not propose an alternative budget.