Chiefs at Colchester Council have delivered on their promise to set one of the lowest tax hikes in the region.

Authority bosses today said the rise would amount to just £9.90 a year for the average, band D, household - slightly below the expected figure.

In October the council pledged to peg the increase to about £10 after making savings of about £3.5 million over three years.

Finance chief Julian Herbert said "tough decisions" had been made to balance the budget and focus on priority services.

The figure is good news for council taxpayers.

But the borough council accounts for just a small slice of people's overall council tax bills.

The rest is set by the county council, emergency services and town or parish councils.

Cash-strapped Essex County Council is due to announce tomorrow how much it is increasing bills.

Published Monday January 19, 2004

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