Council tax payers in Worcester will be asked to pay an extra £62 for council services next year.

Worcestershire County Council has proposed in its draft budget, an increase of 4.94 per cent on its precept for 2018/2019 for Band D properties, which is equivalent to £57.

Worcester City Council’s draft budget proposals for the next year feature a £5 increase for band D payers - an increase of 2.85 per cent.

The West Mercia Police Service, The Hereford and Worcestershire Fire and Rescue service and in Worcester, two parish councils will also apply their own precepts to raise money for the next year.

Councillor Simon Geraghty, leader at County hall said: “We have traditionally been a low council tax authority, among county councils without a fire service we are in the lowest 25 per cent, and we think we will remain below the average, because I think that other authorities will have to raise council tax as well.”

Three per cent of the 4.94 per cent of the next year’s increase for he county council will be ring-fenced for Adult Social care.

Cllr Geraghty, (Conservative, Worcester Riverside), said County Hall had to make £30million in savings for next year but said more will be spent on Children’s services, vulnerable adults and road.

He added: “Residents tell us that improving our roads and pavements, cutting congestion, safeguarding children and protecting vulnerable adults are most important to them.

“By growing our income, by capitalising more of our existing expenditure and by making sure that departments live within their means we are able to invest into these areas.”

Both increases will have to go to public consultation over December and January, and will have to be approved by councillors on the respective authorities.

The new council tax bills will drop through residents’ letterboxes in April.