Colchester Council's share of council tax has been set at £152.10-per-year for a band D property a rise of £5.31.

The figure will be combined on bills with the amount levied by the county council, agreed on Tuesday at £917.73-per-year, and charges made by the police and fire brigade.

Last night' full Colchester Council meeting also saw final approval given to the authority's 2005/06 budget, described by its Conservative leader John Jowers as "fair, balanced and sensible," but condemned by Labour councillors who voted against it.

The Liberal Democrat group gave their backing to the financial plan, but leader Colin Sykes proposed a last-minute amendment which was adopted at the meeting.

He said a £120,000 payout the authority hopes to win from the county council - cash the borough's high recycling rate has saved it in tipping charges - should be spent on providing a new refuse collection vehicle and better street cleaning.

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Published Thursday, February 17, 2005

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