Council seeking 3.9pc tax rise

Cannock Chase Council is set to in-crease its share of the council tax by 3.9 per cent, raising the bill for an average Band D home by about £14 a year.

The increase will be proposed at a meeting of the full council by leader Councillor Neil Stanley on February 25.

A majority of properties in the district are below Band D and will pay between £9.30 and £12.70 more a year.

The final figure people will pay is likely to be much higher as Staffordshire Police Authority is demanding a five per cent increase, while Staffordshire County Council wants a 3.5 per cent or less increase, and Staffordshire Fire Service is seeking a 3.9 per cent rise.

Depending where residents live, their bills will also include any precept increases from the local parish council.

Labour councillors on Cannock Chase Council are expected to put forward their own alternative budget increase of three per cent. The council has warned that it is facing an £870,000 shortfall and has already warned of up to 27 job losses and a package of cuts in services.

Council leader Neil Stan-ley declined to comment on the 3.9 per cent increase, saying he was still consulting with fellow councillors ahead of the cabinet meet-ing on Thursday. He added: "The budget is balanced and comes in below the Government's maximum increase of five per cent."

Labour leader Councillor Doug Thomas said: "We have put an alternative for-ward of three per cent in the council tax which has been looked at by officers and has been fully accepted."