A COUNCIL tax increase of 3.9 percent has been approved by Herefordshire Council.

This means an increase of approximately £4 a month for people living in a band D property.

At the full council meeting, leader Tony Johnson said: "This budget reflects the toughest financial constraints known to local government."

Two percent of the increase will go to adult social care and the remaining 1.9 percent will go to providing the remaining council services.

Leader Tony Johnson said the council needs to find savings of £17.5m by 2019/20 due to the loss of central government grants.

And he said this means the council relies heavily on council tax, and business rates- which are set by the government.

Cllr Johnson added: "We have a much higher than average ageing population and it is predicted by 2031 that 31 percent of our population will be over the age of 65."

He said the increase will help provide services for the most disadvantaged in our society, and also believed the rise is appropriate for a population with the lowest average wage in the UK.

But he said it is also the fourth financial year where the council will be in budget, and added: "Our track record demonstrates both our budget setting processes and service plans are both robust and achievable."

Bob Matthews, leader of Herefordshire Independents, said he believed the council is not getting value for money when it comes to selling their assets. He said they sold Brockington for £1.2m, but then leased Elgar House and had to spend £700,000 just to make it fit-for-purpose.

And he said when the council buys property they pay top prices. for example, they bought Franklin House for £1.2m but it has recently been valued at £600,000.

He said: "It would seem that the administration are only thinking of the situation over the next two years when they are in power. It appears to me that this is when things will become extremely difficult."

Jim Kenyon raised concerns about the cut to the Herefordshire Carers Support funding, which is being cut by half by £175,000.

But Patricia Morgan said that carers receive support in a number of different ways, and added: "Herefordshire Council needs to live within its means. That is our job. We have to make difficult choices."

The rise is council tax was unanimously approved. Herefordshire Council also collects council tax on behalf of the police, fire service and parish councils, which each individually set their own precept.