THE average household in Worcester will have to pay £83 more council tax than last year, the Evening News can reveal.

A 7.79 per cent increase means those living in the average Band D property will receive a bill of £1,156.58.

Figures around Worcestershire - which will be confirmed over the coming fortnight as district authorities ratify their tax demands - will vary from £1,190.46 in Wyre Forest, £1,132.45 in Malvern Hills and £1,116.45 in Wychavon. Sums for parish and town councils will be added.

In Worcester, St Peter's households will have to pay £13.99 and in Warndon £9.21 will be levied on top of the overall bill.

The calculations come after Worcestershire County Council, which is handed around 70 per cent of each bill, confirmed on Thursday that it was upping its tax precept by 5.1 per cent.

The budget was unanimously supported by councillors for the third year in a row.

"In three words we've attempted with this budget to be realistic, reasonable and responsible.

"I think the budget figures we have before us encapsulate those principles," said council leader Dr George Lord.

"We are continuing the policies to drive ahead with a view to lifting standards in schools, to maintain the level of services in libraries and in roads."

Labour group leader Peter Pinfield said the budget was "right for the county, the people we serve, our staff and rate-payers".

A Liberal Democrat group amendment to the budget - which would have raised the tax rate to 5.3 per cent to offer £350,000 extra funding to services - was defeated by 43 votes to 10.

Demand

Council tax for Band D homes in Herefordshire will rise to £1,169.90 if the unitary authority agrees to a proposed 10.4 per cent increase.

West Mercia Police authority increased its precept by 14.9 per cent to £137.69 and the Hereford and Worcester fire authority upped its demand to £60.21, an increase of around 23 per cent.

Total bill for homes

THE total bill for Worcester households:

BAND A: £771.05

BAND B: £899.56

BAND C: £1,028.07

BAND D: £1,156.58

BAND E: £1,413.60

BAND F: £1,670.62

BAND G: £1,927.63

BAND H: £2,313.16

How the bill breaks down in for a Band D property in Worcester:

Worcestershire County Council - £824.52

West Mercia Police Authority - £137.69

Worcester City Council - £134.16*

Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority - £60.21

TOTAL: £1,156.58

*To be ratified on Tuesday, March 2.

Spending

WHERE some of your money will be spent by the county council:

Christopher Whitehead new school - £12.2m

Pershore High new science block - £2.236m

Elgar High School extension - £3.032m

Wyre Piddle bypass - £1.051m

Link road between Chadbury and Twyford, near Evesham - £4.013m

Studdert Kennedy mental health centre, Worcester - £1.715m

Waterside Gypsy site, Warndon - £643,000

Worcester library and record office - £8.251m.