CABINET members approved a five per cent rise in the Bromsgrove district council tax last week.

And now the increase was set to be passed by the full council at a meeting last night (Tuesday) at the Council House - the final stage in deciding the amount Bromsgrove residents will pay.

Leader of Bromsgrove District Council,Dennis Norton (Con - St. Johns), said: "We were in a very difficult position because of the state the finances were left in after Councillor McDonald was chairman of the finance committee."

He added: "But I think we have done very well to keep the increase as low as five per cent."

Leader of the Opposition, Peter McDonald (Lab - Waseley), said: "It is incredible that a council can have the audacity to put tax up at the same time as reducing services.

Cllr McDonald added: "In 1999, when the Conservative party came in, Bromsgrove District Council had millions in balances and what has happened since 1999?

"It has been mismanaged, we have had two chief executives and three treasurers. I think that says it all about Cllr Norton and his motley crew's handling of the council finances."

Spokesman for the Independents. Cllr Nick Psirides (Ind - Norton), said: "The council has only achieved a five per cent increase by raiding the reserves, increasing charges and assuming a very low rate of inflation.

"Even with this gerrymandering of accounts the increase is still double the rate of inflation."

Redditch residents were pleased with their lot - the borough council has managed to keep their council tax the same as last year - with a zero per cent increase.

But councillors have said services will have to be looked at to identify where savings can be made.